Kate has her eyes set on one of two spots for the Olympic Games

Mountain bike racer Kate Courtney will once again have her eyes set on earning one of two spots for the Olympic Games. Disappointed in her 15th place finish at Tokyo 2020, the American racer and Olympic hopeful has started a special training program to get her into gear for the games, with the UCI World Cup results through 26 May counting towards the Mountain Bike Qualification ranking for Paris 2024.

Olympic mountain bike racing is exclusive to cross-country with riders all starting together and racing laps between three and six kilometres. The sport began its professional existence in 1990 and joined the Olympic Programme just six years later when it was introduced during Atlanta 1996.

Courtney said: “I hired a new coach at the end of last year. I’ve been a little bit off my game, I would say, in the last few years and haven't felt like I'm making progress towards competing at the front of World Cup races. And that's really what it's about for me, I want to be competitive at the front – week in and week out.

"So I’m on this rebuild and seeing when it all clicks – I'm hoping that that will be sooner rather than later. But ultimately, I just want to get back to really being at my best and performing at the limits of my capabilities. And if it means I can do that before Paris, that would be excellent”.

Red Bull have shared a series of tips for those looking to get in on the action:

Use an easy gear and pace yourself

For long, steady and not-too-technical climbs, pick an easy gear that will allow you to spin your legs easily, manage your effort levels and pace yourself. Too hard a gear and you'll exhaust yourself, ride too fast at it and you'll burn out before you reach the top.

Stay seated

When things get steeper, looser, muddier or more technical, it's tempting to get out of the saddle to keep the power turning, but actually it's better to stay seated if you can. Standing up means your weight becomes unevenly distributed across the wheels, meaning they have less grip and traction, so you risk them slipping or spinning, which could stop you in your tracks.

Smooth out that pedal stroke

Unlike road cyclists, with their smooth road surfaces, mountain bikers have to deal with all sorts of unpredictable features when climbing. Think rocks, roots, mud and often all three at the same time. Pumping the pedals round like a crazy person will cause you to lose traction, due to the uneven spikes in power.

Hone your mental game

Climbs can feel like they go on forever and have you wondering if you'll ever make it up. It's a head game that the pros are very good at managing. On longer climbs, pros have been known to count in one minute intervals when they're on the limit. Once they make it to the end of that minute they start counting again.

To keep up with the action of the UCI World Cup, Rob Warner, Emily Batty, and Eliot Jackson return to the studio for Season 2 of "Beyond the Line."

The Red Bull TV highlight show delves into the major action from the UCI MTB World Cup, featuring top riders and exclusive insights each episode.

Episode one kicks off with a look at Martin Vidaurre’s career and the absence of some big names in Brazil. Vali Höll shares insights on team changes, while Rob Warner explores the impact of speed suits on performance. Additionally, Nino Schurter and Kate Courtney discuss how the drive for Paris qualifications is fuelling high performance and intense competition.