The USA Men’s mountain biking team is gearing up for a shot at qualifying for the 2025 Paris Olympic Games, with top riders Riley Amos and Chris Blevins eyeing coveted spots on the roster.
Come May 26, the top 8 countries will secure qualification for their top two cyclists. Amos and Blevins are optimistic about their chances, eager to showcase their skills on the international stage and bolster America’s presence in the global sporting arena.
Blevins, hailing from Durango, Colorado, a locale steeped in mountain biking history as the site of the inaugural mountain bike world championships in 1990, reflects on his upbringing with gratitude. “I was really lucky to have a good community there and be on a bike from a young age,” he says. Blevins was the sole American contender at the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, an experience he describes as both unique and honorable, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Having made his Olympic debut in 2020 and finishing 14th, Blevins now sets his sights firmly on the podium. However, he’s hopeful he won’t be flying the American flag solo this time around. Enter Riley Amos, a 23-year-old rising talent also hailing from Durango, Colorado.
“It’s potentially the first time in a long while to bring two U.S. riders to the Olympics. If we secure those two spots, it hopefully means that I get to go. So, it means a lot to me and to the country, to hopefully bring two guys to represent our sport,” says Amos, emphasizing the shared aspiration of both riders: securing their tickets to Paris and paving the way for future generations of mountain bikers.