Hinterland BMX rider mixes it with world’s best

“And then I think because I did that, the next day,
I rode out with too high expectations. I was riding good but put too much pressure on myself.”

At round two in Bathurst, a third place qualified Cunning to continue in the series before rain and extreme winds forced the cancellation of the rest of the round.

Racing at World Cup level has been the step up that Cunning has expected, even after having raced on the United States circuit.

“The intensity is up a level, and because it’s an Olympic year, everyone is going all out to try and get a spot,” he said.

“The way people ride and how they ride – it’s completely different from what I’m used to.

“In America, I have the best starts but out of the people here, I had the worst starts.

The first two rounds have highlighted areas Cunning will need to work on if he wants to one day achieve his Olympic dream but they have also been confidence- building.

Finishing ahead of two past Olympians in one race has helped combat any self-doubt about his abilities.

“I went back to the tent and thought, ‘Wow, I really can ride with these guys’,” he said.

“If I get to the gate and race my own race, I do have the capacity to beat these people, and some of them are the best in the world.”

Cunning is now talking with sponsors to compete in rounds three and four of the World Series in England and Holland in April and May.