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The Guts Behind The Glory: Harry Heath
Harry Heath on the challenges of racing pro downhill as a privateer.
6 min
The Guts Behind The Glory: Harry Heath
Harry Heath talks about life as a privateer in this latest Guts Behind the Glory episode
Harry Heath knows how tough it can be to compete on the professional downhill circuit more than most.
The young Briton raced the 2013 season as a privateer following his release from Slovenian trade team Unior Tools Team after two years there.
Life as a privateer can be hard. There are no hotel rooms to be had here. Harry travels around in his own van. There is no support crew; Harry is the mechanic, the cook and his own trainer. You’d understand if Harry’s motivation to keep on going faltered sometimes. Yet the likeable Englishman is still firmly focussed on getting to the top of his sport.
As a privateer, Harry relies on funding himself and getting invaluable support from sponsors like Renthal, Five Ten, Schwalbe, Cyclestore.co.uk and Mojo/Fox Suspension to race around the world. Devinci provide the bike frames.
While it can be a lonely life at times, Harry has friends on the circuit and people who he can seek for advice. The likes of Josh Bryceland and Sam Dale, who also originate from near Manchester, where Harry is from, provide valuable support, guidance and laughs on racing weekends.
The rewards for his commitment to the sport may not always be seen through race results but when it does go right as it did in Leogang (where Harry finished 37th) there can’t be any better satisfaction.
