A TEENAGE Warrington cyclist is among the 40 names selected to represent Team GB in the Banská Bystrica 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival.

Sebastian Grindley from Stockton Heath, a Year 11 student at The Grange School in Hartford, Northwich, will compete in the Summer European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) taking place in Slovakia from July 24 to 30.

The 16-year-old became Warrington-based North Cheshire Clarion Cycling Club's first national champion when he won the cyclocross title in the under 14s age group two years ago.

Grindley, who is the reigning British Cyclocross Champion at under 16s level having fended off his rivals in January's championships, will be among around 3,500 athletes and officials representing 48 European nations across 10 Olympic sports in the EYOF.

This event plays an important role in the development of young British athletes, providing crucial multi-sport event experience and guiding them towards realising their Olympic ambitions.

Many athletes who have competed for Team GB at a summer EYOF have gone on to compete at an Olympic Games, including Rebecca Adlington (Paris 2003 EYOF), Dina Asher-Smith (Trabzon 2011), Nile Wilson (Utrecht 2013), Amy Tinkler (Utrecht 2013), Tom Pidcock (Tblisi 2015).

Leading the Team GB delegation at Banksá Bystrica 2022 will be Lizzie Simmonds, who competed in the Lignano Sabbiadoro 2005 EYOF before going on to represent Team GB at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

She is also the current chair of the British Olympic Association’s Athletes’ Commission.

Simmonds said: “Being selected for Team GB for the first time is a real honour and privilege, and I’m sure today marks a very proud moment for the 40 talented athletes that have qualified for Banská Bystrica 2022.

“Youth Olympic Festivals are hugely important events, offering young athletes invaluable international competition and the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in a multi-sport environment.

"Embracing and learning from an experience like this one can be the first step in a journey towards competing for Team GB at a senior Olympic Games.

“Having experienced an EYOF myself as an athlete, I'm now looking forward to welcoming a new generation of Olympic hopefuls to Team GB, and supporting them to perform at their best on the European stage this summer.”