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Decathlon CMA CGM 16-year-old betters entire elite field to go fastest at British Hill Climb Championships

Sixteen-year-old Ezra Bateman recorded the quickest ascent at the British Hill Climb Championships in Somerset, completing the 6.6km course in 14 minutes and 31.9 seconds. The Decathlon junior cyclist outperformed the entire elite field, narrowly beating top senior riders Ed Laverack and Andrew Feather, while fellow junior Oliver Swinburn also secured one of the day's top overall marks.

Despite clocking the absolute best time of the event, Bateman did not claim the open national champion jersey due to governing body regulations which restrict athletes strictly to their entered category. Varying weather conditions throughout the day also played a role as categories raced at different times, though Bateman expressed surprise and delight at outpacing established senior competitors like Laverack.

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