Jack of all trades: teen talent eyes MTB titles, road contract after winning start

Last year, Melbourne teenager Jack Ward dove into the deep end when he made the leap from juniors to elites.

Having skipped the under-23 category, Ward proved himself against Australia’s best cross-country racers, taking silver in the elite XCO race at the GWM Mountain Bike National Championships.

Next month, Ward will return to Nationals with his eyes on the top prize. He’s aiming to win the elite XCC and XCO titles at Mt Buller, and, with another year under his belt, few would count against him.

“I think my general endurance has improved a bit,” Ward told AusCycling. “Especially coming into this year, I’ve done a bit more training.

“At Awaba [in 2024], at the end I was starting to cramp and hurting a lot. I’ve improved there.

“I know a bit more about what I can do in a race. How deep I can go. I used to be a bit scared of going too hard and I’d blow up. With a lot of endurance behind you, a big base, you can keep doing it later in the race.”

Ward has won all four rounds of the XC National Series so far. (Cycling Photos Tasmania)

So far this season, the signs are good for the Yarra Ranges rider. Ward is currently leading the AusCycling Cross-Country National Series after winning each of the four opening rounds.

But the multi-talented 19-year-old has more than one goal in his crosshairs.

Ward is also the frontrunner in road cycling’s ProVelo Super League (PSL), which offers the glittering prize of an internship with a professional team – a ‘stagiaire’ contract.

After two of six rounds, Ward comfortably leads the PSL’s under-23 rankings, putting him in pole position for the trainee slot with WorldTour outfit Team Jayco AlUla.

It won’t be easy to juggle his ambitions on dirt and road, despite the support of his team, Team Brennan p/b TP32. Ward will be forced to miss a round of the PSL due to a clash with Nationals.

But he says his training allows him to target both disciplines.

Ward is on track for some major goals this season. (Cycling Photos Tasmania)

“If you build a good base of endurance, it’s good for mountain bike anyway,” said Ward, who is coached by the Brisbane-based Alex Quirk.

“You train for the road and do a bit of intensity and you’re good for the mountain bike. I feel you can transfer from the road.”

Ward recently travelled to Mt Buller to scope out the trails for Nationals. Although the XC courses have not yet been revealed, Ward likes what he’s seen.

“I was there just last weekend and did three laps of what I think is the course.  I like what it looks like so far, from what I can tell,” Ward said.

“It’s pretty fast. You can’t see super far ahead, so you can get away and disappear from everyone’s mind. Once you can’t see the person in front, it’s harder to catch them again.

After the dramatic mud-fest of last year’s National Championships, Ward is hoping for another technical race to play into his favour.

“When it’s hard, it’s good. When it’s fast. Like Hobart, on parts of the Downhill course, I really enjoyed it,” Ward said.

“I love a wet race because it’s a harder race. You really got to be on the ball. Even if it’s cold, that’s racing.”

Ward (left) won silver in the mud-soaked XCO race at last year's Nationals. (Matt Rousu)

The National Championships, the National Series and the PSL make up Ward’s early-season targets. Beyond that, he’s not certain what the rest of 2025 will look like – although he definitely plans to head to Europe.

“I’m still not sure what I’m doing,” Ward said. “I want to do Worlds, do well there, and hopefully Tour de l’Avenir. I’m not really sure if I’m doing Oceanias yet. I’ll know in a few weeks.”

What the young dynamo is sure about, however, are chasing his long-term aspirations across road and mountain bike.

“Being able to combine both is definitely the dream,” Ward said. “I just enjoy doing both disciplines because they’re different and good in their own way. I don’t think I’d enjoy doing one thing all the time.

“Mountain bike’s still very, very good fun and I enjoy that sort of racing, as well as the more tactical road racing. It’s good to have both.”

Feature photo: Cycling Photos Tasmania