Durango’s Riley Amos has accomplished a lot in his young mountain biking career, but he hasn’t forgotten the financial struggles of trying to make it to the highest level of the sport.
That’s why Amos, 23, is starting a youth mountain biking scholarship for the 2026 season. After finishing seventh in men’s mountain biking at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, winning the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup men’s U-23 cross-country Olympic and cross-country short track overall titles and finishing his first season in the men’s elite field, Amos is in a position to give back to those following in his footsteps.
“Growing up and getting into the sport, my family barely afforded to get me to this position,” Amos said. “They laid a lot on the line for me that was, in one sense, a hobby … that blossomed into something that was quite a big financial burden. I want to have an impact in the youth generation and find that kid or two who are extremely good and extremely motivated who could maybe use a little helping hand.”
Amos will give $1,500 cash to one male and one female recipient between the ages of 15-18 who want to become a professional. The scholarship will also include some FaceTime calls and mentorship from Amos.
The Durangoan remembers how, when he was 16, he got to race in a U.S. Pro Cup in Solider Hollow, Utah, a U.S. Cup race in Missoula, Montana, and he raced in a national championship on the East Coast in West Virginia. He thinks those trips could easily cost another rising star $1,500, so it’s important for him to give kids an opportunity to compete at a big race, which could lead to a junior development team reaching out for the next season.
Amos envisions the scholarship being used in a multitude of ways, whether it’s the whole family going to the race or a new set of tires, housing, or international flights.
Applicants must send a two-minute video to nextgenmtbscholarship@gmail.com to tell Amos a little about themselves, their race experience and why the scholarship is right for them. The scholarship was intended for U.S. racers, but Amos is open to receiving international applicants.
“The reason of doing that two-minute video is that it takes some effort,” Amos said. “It's easy to go through a Google form and fill out a couple of questions. Put yourself out there. Take some effort and some dedication. I wanted to see that. That alone will help me narrow it down pretty quickly.”
Applicants must also send a race resume along with the video. It’s another tool Amos will use to get a good grasp on each rider.
The deadline to submit the video and resume to nextgenmtbscholarship@gmail.com is Feb. 1. Amos will put out another reminder on his Instagram page a week before the deadline with an updated timeline for when the scholarship winners will be announced.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
