A LANCASTER Boys Grammar School pupil is riding high after being given the chance to go the distance with a professional cycling team.

Since he started cycling six years ago, Ben Greenwood, pictured left, has won a string of accolades, including becoming the British University Hill Climb Champion.

The 18-year-old is one of four youngsters asked by the Life Repair Group Cycle Racing Team's manager Phil Leigh, from Ellel, to join the team - which is headed by road racing ace John Tanner and has 10 national champions among its number.

"It was great to be asked to join the team, as riding with some of the top people in the country will help me progress further and watching how they race and train will give me a more professional attitude,. Ben told the Citizen this week"

" At the moment I am still a member of the Lune RCC and train six days a week, which I am hoping to keep up when I start my degree in environmental science in September."

Ben will be joined by 2002 National Junior Champion Steffan Wilson, from Kendal.

Team manager Phil Leigh, a former Great Britain international, says: " I decided to set up the team because I used to be a cyclist and it was my ambition to be in team management.

"We wanted to introduce youngsters because they are the next generation of cyclists, and because it is an expensive sport, sponsorship for them is important. I wish I could have had this sort of opportunity when I was young.

" I chose Ben and Steffan because I saw great potential and dedication when watching them. I expect great things, though this year is going to be a steep learning curve for them."

Ben and Steffan will be taking part in a series of races in the coming year, including the five-day Tour of Greece in April.