HOUSTON (KIAH) — The top two mountain cyclists in the country are hoping to see their names on the qualifying list for the 2025 Paris Olympics.
On May 26th, the top eight countries will qualify the top two. Riley Amos and Chris Blevins will soon have to travel to Paris to compete in the biggest athletic event and look to expand the American footprint around the world.
Blevins grew up in Durango, Colorado, where the first-ever Mountain Bike World Championship was held in 1990. “I was really lucky to have a good community there and to be able to ride bikes from an early age,” he says. Blevins was the only American athlete to compete in the last Tokyo Olympics.
“It was a unique experience, kind of like a mound bike summer camp in a year of COVID. But it was obviously an honor. For any athlete, that’s the biggest thing they could dream of.”
Blevins made his first appearance in 2020, finishing 14th. Now his mind and eyes are on the podium. But he also hopes he won’t be the only one representing the United States this year. Riley Amos, a 23-year-old who also grew up in Durango, Colorado, may also make history for our country.
“It might be a long time since we’ve had two U.S. riders in the Olympics. If we get those two spots, it means I get to compete. So it would mean a lot to me and to the country to hopefully bring two athletes to represent our sport,” Amos said. Two riders, two spots, and a shared goal of going to Paris to grow the sport for the younger generation.
