The cyclo-cross girl with an Olympic dream

A teenage cyclist vying to be a national champion in the muddy world of cyclo-cross is harbouring an Olympic dream which has become a family mission.

Lauren Fox, 13, who competes in events alongside sister Eva, 16, is currently second in the national league for the sport.

Cyclo-cross is described as a mix of road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase, with cyclists dismounting to run up stairs, past hurdles and over steep embankments.

Despite living in St Ives, Lauren and Eva are members of a club in Devon so the family regularly travel the 117 miles (188km) from their home town to Torbay for training.

The family said the travel was worthwhile for the joy the sisters had found in their hobby.

Lauren said: "I just always had a love for cycling since being a young girl.

Although cyclo-cross is yet to become an Olympic sport, Lauren also trains in track and road cycling, so she hopes one day to take her skills to the international stage.

"I always dreamed of being in the Olympics, of turning pro.

"It's very hard... there are five of us girls who are really close in the league and we're battling it out."

Lauren said she discovered her love for cycling while competing in triathlons, before finding the adventurous sport of cyclo-cross.

The talented teenager, who rides for Mid Devon Cycling Club, has already won the first round of the nationals in the under-14s group.

The two sisters "spur each other on," she added, with the hobby having become a "family thing".

Her mum Keely Walton, who runs a cafe in St Ives along with partner James Fox, said the cross-county journeys for training were worth it.

"It's a long way, it's about two hours every fortnight.

"They're such a good club and the support Lauren's received, and us as a family, they're just a great club to ride for.

"Lauren just loves the mixture you get with cyclo-cross - you get mud, you get grass, sand and it's 30 minutes of giving it your absolute all and you just never know what you're going to get.

"And if it rains, there's a lot of mud."

Ms Walton said the girls' dad spends a lot of time with "mud up to his knees" washing their bikes.

Because of a lack of facilities in their home town, the family sometimes also train at their local rugby club, where they set up a course.

Lauren raced in the national cyclo-cross league in Torbay, finishing fourth overall in the under-14 girls category.

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