Cameron Mason has credited former cyclocross World Champion Tom Pidcock as a major influence on his career after riding to a sensational silver medal at the European Championships.
The 23-year-old from Scotland became the first rider from outside Belgium or the Netherlands to podium in the elite men's race and finished just seven seconds behind race winner Michael Vanthourenhout.
Mason - who recently left Trinity Racing to join the Cyclocross Reds squad - later told Cycling Weekly that he had been inspired by former team-mate Pidcock’s achievements as he looks to hit similar heights himself in the years ahead.
“We all need role models,” Mason said. “Of course, when I first started watching cyclocross, it was Sven Nys and then Mathieu [van der Poel] and Wout [van Aert]. These role models are great but they're not very relatable. They've spent their whole life racing at that level in Belgium, you know, they speak a different language, they're from a different culture.
“Then with someone like Tom to be racing at that level with the background he has, which is a real kind of go ride background, of club coaching, of grassroots racing, of inter regionals, all that stuff.
“I have come from a similar background in UK Sport to him and it just shows that with the right kind of people around you, the right combination of luck and right time, right place that's the direction things can go in. That's a part of the reason why you don’t stop believing because you see someone you can relate to also reaching those heights so I think it's right to credit a bit of that to Tom [Pidcock].
“I'd like to think I'm one of those people now for younger riders. I do think it shows that a little patience and determination can result in some good things.”
