Olympic ambition

Jake Ragan

PEDAL POWER is paying off for Denshaw teenager Jake Ragan.

A promising junior cross-country runner and swimmer, Jake (pictured) has really hit the heights since concentrating on his cycling.

The 14-year-old Saddleworth School pupil has already won the National Road Race series for his age group, based over 10 events, and is proving equally adept on the track.

A member of the SportCity-Velo club, based at Manchester Velodrome, he took their Track Omnium championship.

Jake’s hopes of joining Great Britain’s hugely-successful track cycling team in time for the London 2012 Olympics has also been given a boost.

He is one of only 30 elite riders nationwide to be called up to cycling’s Olympic Talent Team which hopes to identify future champions among those aged 16 and under.