🏆 European Championships Pontchâteau 🇪🇺 🥇 🇧🇪 Michael Vanthourenhout 🥈 🇬🇧 Cameron Mason 🥉 🇳🇱 Lars van der Haar 4 🇳🇱 Ronhaar 5 🇳🇱 Kamp 6 🇧🇪 Iserbyt 7 🇧🇪 L. Sweeck 8 🇧🇪 Vandeputte 9 🇪🇸 Orts Lloret 10 🇧🇪 Meeussen ➡️ Results: bit.ly/47kz0S4 #EuroCross23
Cameron Mason: "I have the potential to win and my next goal is 100% to win a big race"
CyclingSaturday, 11 November 2023 at 11:07
Cameron Mason has been breaking through the ranks of cyclocross and disrupted the Belgian/Dutch dominance at the European Championships. After the second place in Pontchâteau he seeks to take the next step and take a big win.
"Sunday was a big breakthrough. I’m only just realizing now how significant the Euros are in the world of cyclocross," Mason told GCN. "Sunday showed I have the potential to win and my next goal is 100% to win a big race, that’s a clear goal. The good thing is it’s not just one race, nothing too specific. I’m not saying I want to medal at Worlds – I’m not a fan of that type of goal, but I know if keep doing what I’m doing and keep being the best version of myself then I can get really close to a win in a World Cup and that’s really motivating.
Mason at 23 is coming along as one of the brightest talents in the sport. Over the summer he's raced Mountain Bike and Gravel, putting on a full calendar of off-road racing. Despite this, his potential has been recognized and he's set to race for Alpecin-Deceuninck in 2024 - most likely in the development team. This will see him try new things and perhaps find his own on the road finally.
"I’m one of the least connected British cyclists to British Cycling that there is. I’ve never been on a senior programme, I’ve never had funding," he tells. "A lot of riders do flourish within a British Cycling programme, where the direction is simple; you go in, train, go home, focus on the Olympics. But because I’ve not had that, it’s made me more of a diverse athlete, and there’s way more value in that right now."
That development has been consistent and quite sharp as of late. A fourth place at the Koppenbergcross was another clear sign that he's racing towards the top and is a big fan of the climbing-heavy and muddy courses. He will not be focusing on any of the cups during the winter and this will give him freedom to prepare for specific goals which may prove successful later in the year.
"My schedule is not as full as some others. This block has been busy so I’m going home after Dendermonde for three weeks, which will include the Dublin World Cup, then back to Belgium in the run-up to Christmas, then later the Nationals and Worlds block," Mason reveals. "I’m keen to race in Februrary, too. I’ve never raced that last moth of the ‘cross season and there are loads of good races in there for me, so if I really want to show how good a ‘cross rider I am, I should be racing those races, and that’s pretty exciting, too."
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