{"id":407825,"date":"2026-01-14T03:53:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T03:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/407825\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T03:53:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T03:53:21","slug":"meet-the-13-year-old-on-her-way-to-becoming-a-star-of-mtb-trials-riding-and-our-newcomer-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/407825\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the 13-year-old on her way to becoming a star of MTB trials riding \u2013 and our Newcomer of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

We drop in on Daisy Craig, crowned Newcomer of the Year for 2025<\/a> in our annual Rider of the Year awards, to find out how this 13-year-old from Derbyshire is on track to become one of the world’s best trials riders.<\/p>\n

Daisy Craig is a world champion. And boy, can she ride a bike \u2013 she makes it look easy. She\u2019s an exceptional rider and deserved winner of our MTB Newcomer of the Year award for 2025.<\/p>\n

Daisy’s favoured discipline is trials, although she also enjoys hitting the trails at Cannock Chase on her mountain bike. And we\u2019re not talking the recreational \u2018street trials\u2019 side of the sport, as showcased by the likes of Danny MacAskill, but the super-technical competition scene.<\/p>\n

For the uninitiated, \u2018observed trials\u2019 \u2013 to give it its full name \u2013 is a test of bike-handling skills where the rider has to navigate a course filled with natural or manmade obstacles. Using a series of hops, lunges and trackstands, the aim is to get through each section with the fewest \u2018dabs\u2019 (putting a foot down to steady yourself).<\/p>\n

Daisy is the reigning UCI world champion in her age group. But how did she get into the sport and what\u2019s next for this super-talented teenager? We headed to Derbyshire to find out.<\/p>\n

\"DaisyDaisy won the public vote for MTB Newcomer of the Year in our 2025 Rider of the Year awards. Steve Sayers \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Rider of the Year 2025, supported by Lezyne <\/p>\n

Daisy Craig topped the readers’ vote to be crowned MBUK and BikeRadar’s MTB Newcomer of the Year for 2025.<\/p>\n

Supported by Lezyne, Rider of the Year celebrates the achievements of road cyclists and mountain bikers across three categories: Rider of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award. <\/p>\n

For 2025, our MTB winners were: <\/p>\n

Rider of the Year \u2013 Louise Ferguson
\nNewcomer of the Year \u2013 Daisy Craig
\nLifetime Achievement Award \u2013 Steve Peat<\/p>\n

In the genes
\n\"DaisyA family affair \u2013 dad Billy and brother Harry ride trials too, as did mum Jen, a two-time Elite champion. Steve Behr \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Daisy isn\u2019t the first Craig to grace the pages of MBUK. Her dad, Billy, appeared in a feature about the short-lived discipline of \u2018speed trials\u2019 in the mid-90s. He\u2019s been riding trials (both motorcycle and MTB) since the early 80s, when he was six years old. His dad rode, too, so it\u2019s hardly surprising that both Daisy and her younger brother Harry, 10, are wild about trials.<\/p>\n

Billy still rides, but his main focus these days is Daisy and Harry, and getting them sorted at trials competitions. Their mum, Jen, used to ride too, and won the British Elite women\u2019s division twice before retiring. \u201cDaisy gets her competitiveness from her mum, not from me,\u201d laughs Billy.<\/p>\n

\"RiderRider of the Year sees the great and good of the cycling industry assemble at our Bristol HQ. Steve Sayers \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

We catch up with Daisy, Harry and Billy at the Derbyshire Biketrial Centre near Wirksworth, not too far from their home in Derby. <\/p>\n

Daisy is trained by Oli Weightman, whose family own and run the centre, based in and around a barn on their farm. Oli and his brother, Eddie, are exceptional riders themselves \u2013 Oli took the bronze medal in the 26in category at the UCI Trials World Championships in November.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re already putting Daisy and Harry through their paces when we turn up. Daisy is riding her 20in-wheeled Clean K1 \u2013 a sleek carbon fibre machine. <\/p>\n

\"DaisyDaisy trains three times a week with Oli Weightman at the Derbyshire Biketrial Centre, based on his family\u2019s farm. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe do one-to-one sessions once a week for two hours, focusing on techniques and sections to get used to competitions,\u201d Oli tells us. \u201cShe\u2019s had a massive improvement in confidence on the bike \u2013 she\u2019s more strategic getting around a competition arena, there\u2019s a huge difference. She\u2019s already a more powerful rider than her peers, now we\u2019re focusing on more technical aspects.\u201d<\/p>\n

Competitive bike trials have always been fairly niche. Even during the MTB trials boom of the early 2000s, most of the riders who took up the discipline didn\u2019t cross over to the competition side, which had its roots in motorcycle trials and felt more a part of that world than mountain biking.<\/p>\n

The sport is overseen by two governing bodies \u2013 the UCI (International Cycling Union) and BIU (BikeTrial International Union) \u2013 each with their own competition rules. The UCI doesn\u2019t allow a rider to rest on their bashplate or pedals without incurring a penalty, whereas the BIU runs things more in line with motorcycle trials and allows those moves.<\/p>\n

Oli says: \u201cThe BIU competitions have more natural, wheels-on-ground, hopping-up-banks type sections. The UCI is more of a show \u2013 the style of riding is very different and the sections are always manmade. It\u2019s impressive for crowds to watch, more of a performance.\u201d <\/p>\n

Most British riders compete in both formats, because each provides a different experience.<\/p>\n

Podium contender
\n\"DaisyDaisy enjoys riding natural sections as well as manmade courses. Steve Behr \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Internationally, the UCI run a Trials World Cup series and a one-off World Championships event, which since 2017 has been part of the Urban Cycling World Championships, together with freestyle BMX. In addition, there\u2019s the UCI Trials World Youth Games, for riders under 16.<\/p>\n

This is where Daisy comes in. Last year, in Spain (the birthplace of bike trials), she won the gold medal in the U13 girls category, becoming the first British female title winner at the Games. Oli reckons if she continues on the same trajectory, she\u2019ll be on course for a podium at the Worlds in the next age group up. <\/p>\n

Daisy has only competed on 20in wheels so far. While the men have separate classes for 20 and 26in, there\u2019s only one women\u2019s category, covering both sizes. No female riders in international competition are currently riding 26in, so the course sections are set accordingly.<\/p>\n

\"DaisyDaisy competes on 20in wheels. Steve Behr \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Oli says there are advantages and disadvantages of each size, depending on the sections to be ridden and the strength of the rider. For Daisy, the choice ultimately comes down to style and preference, but he says: \u201cIt\u2019s more important to learn base techniques on a 20in, then transfer to 26in when you have them 100% dialled.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daisy’s 26in-wheel Clean bike looks very different from a modern trail or enduro rig, with its rigid carbon fork, super-low top tube, stretched-out stem and forward-swept bar.<\/p>\n

Daisy takes to it like the proverbial duck to water and is soon cleaning sections that Billy didn\u2019t expect her to, enjoying the challenge of riding obstacles she\u2019s familiar with on the bigger-wheeled bike. \u201cLooks like I\u2019ll be riding the 20in while she\u2019s on that,\u201d her dad jokes. She certainly looks at home on it \u2013 a sign of things to come, maybe?<\/p>\n

Daisy’s firsts<\/p>\n

2019: Wins ACU Youth (motorcycle) Trials Championships (girls, Class D)<\/p>\n

2021: Wins ACU Youth (motorcycle) Trials Championships (girls, Class D) and UK UCI National (bicycle) Trials Championships (youth girls, U11)<\/p>\n

2022: Now focusing on bike trials, represents GB at World Youth Games after competing at only four events (comes fourth). Wins UK UCI National Trials Championships (youth girls, U11) and wins British National Trials Cup (U10)<\/p>\n

2023: First British female medal winner in trials at World Youth Games (bronze) and wins UK UCI National Trials Championships (Youth Girls, U11)<\/p>\n

2024: Wins UK UCI National Trials Championships (Girls, U15) and British National Trials Cup (U16)<\/p>\n

2025: Wins UCI World Youth Games (U13), UK UCI National Trials Championships (Girls, U13) and AMCA British (motorcycle) Trials Championship (ladies and girls, expert)<\/p>\n

Support act
\n\"DaisyWith Oli\u2019s barn, Daisy can train all year round, no matter the weather. Steve Behr \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

We head to the barn, where Oli and Eddie have a setup that enables them to train in all weather and light \u2013 perfect for those winter months when riding outdoors is less than ideal. Billy explains Daisy visits every Wednesday evening, and Oli pushes her more than her dad would.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve had a few battles, but he knows her level and how far to push her,\u201d says Billy. \u201cHe\u2019s coached her in how to ride and how to analyse a section. And she\u2019s learning all the competition craft from Oli \u2013 how to look ahead, good posture on the bike and proper stance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI prefer to watch Oli ride [than top street riders],\u201d says Daisy, who\u2019s much more focused on competition than riding for its own sake. \u201cI also like watching people I ride against.” <\/p>\n

Oli and Eddie\u2019s mum, Sarah, was the one who spotted Daisy’s talent and suggested she go to the Youth Games. The Derbyshire BikeTrial Centre is part of the family home, created after the boys\u2019 dad, Carl, added in obstacles for them to ride over the course of a decade.<\/p>\n

They now host the National Championships at the farm, which is also open to the public on summer evenings and weekends. With supportive parents like that, it\u2019s easy to see how the Weightman brothers have progressed so far, and Daisy is similarly benefitting from unwavering parental support.<\/p>\n

Front and forward
\n\"DaisyBrothers Oli and Eddie Weightman at their farm with Daisy and Harry. Steve Behr \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Trials riding has changed a lot over the past decade. Bikes are much lighter and the geometry is different \u2013 the bars have moved forward to cater for the increased emphasis on front-wheel moves. \u201cRiders are using the whole bike a lot more \u2013 you can use the front wheel to go further,\u201d says Oli.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Hook\u2019 is a new-school move, where the front wheel is first hooked over the obstacle and then the rider shifts their weight forward dramatically and lifts the rear wheel up onto the top. Gaps are now landed on the front wheel rather than the rear, which means bigger distances can be covered, and sidehops onto obstacles are done similarly.<\/p>\n

Most of these techniques derive from motorcycle trials, but have been adapted for bike use and popularised by world-champion riders such as the UK\u2019s Jack Carthy and, more recently, Charlie Rolls.<\/p>\n

\"DaisyDaisy Craig: a star in the making. Steve Behr \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Daisy has a quick ride around on her trials motorcycle before we leave the farm for a more natural riding location. \u201cI like both equally, moto and bike,\u201d she says. \u201cStrength on the moto helps on the bike, it keeps me fit and competitive through the winter.\u201d <\/p>\n

A short drive away is Black Rocks, a scenic outcrop perched on the side of a hill. It\u2019s great to watch Daisy riding the natural sections and to see the reactions of visiting walkers to this young girl\u2019s undeniable skills on a bike.<\/p>\n

So, what\u2019s next? Daisy has three more years at Junior level to come. \u201cI\u2019d like to win the world champs again,\u201d she says confidently. She\u2019s training three times a week and competing either at moto or bike trials at the weekends. Already an eight-times British champion across bike and moto, and with a world title to her name at the age of 13, you wouldn\u2019t bet against this driven, determined and talented young rider achieving that aim.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We drop in on Daisy Craig, crowned Newcomer of the Year for 2025 in our annual Rider of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":407826,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-407825","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-cycling","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/407825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=407825"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/407825\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/407826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=407825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=407825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=407825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}