IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Mason Wilson rides past corn fields on country roads, logging thousands of miles each year in training that earned him a spot on the USA Junior National Cycling Team.<\/p>\n
The 17-year-old cyclist logged almost 9,000 miles a couple years ago and surpassed 10,000 miles last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, I got over 10,000. This year, I\u2019m probably on track for more than that,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
Paying his own way<\/p>\n
Wilson pays for half his own equipment. In middle school, he biked 40 miles round trip to his grandparents\u2019 farm to earn his share.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was riding to my grandparents farm for work. I\u2019d work there, make some money, and then ride back,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
His father, Caleb Wilson, recognized his son\u2019s speed early when they raced together.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat race, he blasted off the start line, left us all behind, and we never saw him again,\u201d Caleb Wilson said. \u201cThat was the moment I knew, we were probably done racing together.\u201d<\/p>\n
From gravel to pavement<\/p>\n
After excelling in several national gravel races, the Olympic Training Center invited Wilson in for testing. That feedback pushed him to switch disciplines from gravel to pavement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey told me that I have potential to possibly race at a really high level. They told me that I should try a road season,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
Wilson has now committed everything to cycling.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe liked other sports too. He chose to give those up over time, and focus on this sport. Not just to be better at it, but because he loves it,\u201d Caleb Wilson said.<\/p>\n
Training through Iowa winters<\/p>\n
During an Iowa winter, Wilson goes on four-hour rides inside, staring at a blank wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really hard to keep the energy up when you\u2019re hurting bad. The thing that I do to keep myself motivated is to remember how good it feels when you\u2019ve accomplished something really meaningful,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
He will head to the Czech Republic with Team USA for world junior races in May.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy big goal right now is that I want to make it to the world tour, which is the highest level of road racing,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n
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