JENSON Young has done more miles in the air than he has in the saddle this year... but probably not by much.

The Hemingfield cyclist, 24, was snapped up late last year by professional team Ribble Outliers to compete in a global gravel bike racing series.

It has taken him all over the world in 2025.

He has been to America twice, Iceland and all corners of Europe competing including the far-flung Baltic countries of Latvia and Lithuania.

And Jenson’s impressive form has ensured he has signed a new deal with his team for next season and a nomination in the Proud of Barnsley Sporting Achievement category.

The season may not be over yet but Jenson has been finding his best form of late ahead of the UCI World Championships, which are being held this weekend in the Netherlands.

Jenson was victorious in the UCI World Series race in Wales and also became the inaugural national champion in the gravel racing time trial in North Yorkshire in September.

Another strong finish followed in the men’s senior race where he ended up fourth.

He then achieved a lifelong goal by smashing the Three Peaks course record and emulating his uncle in winning that gruelling race.

Jenson seems to have found his niche on the gravel bike after previously competing on the road and in cyclocross.

He, along with last year’s Sporting Achievement winner, Imogen Wolff make up the town’s cohort of professional cyclists.

It’s been a breakthrough year for Jenson in many respects.

He said: “It is really nice to be recognised. Barnsley cycling is going great with Imogen. She’s absolutely smashing it and I think she’d be good at gravel racing too.

“I represent Barnsley wherever I go and I’ve been to a lot of places this year.

“Gravel racing isn’t all that accessible in the UK, there’s only two races a year, so you’re always going to different countries to compete.

“Ribble are the first and only British professional gravel racing team.”

Jenson also competed in the Unbound race in the USA which is an agonising 200-mile long course in Kansas.

He finished 29th ahead of former Olympic gold medalist Greg van Avermaet in a field of 140 riders.

“I wanted to have a good season but did not expect to get wins - they have been great and I think I’ve got more and more confidence from them,” he added.

“I have managed to put some good results together late in the season.”

It is not all glitz and glamour for Jenson, though.

“I am my own engineer - you’ve got to know everything about the bike and change it around.

“Thankfully I spent a few years working at Geared Up Cycles in Wombwell so I knew a few things.”

Jenson also penned a series of columns for the Chronicle this year where he gave candid accounts on the physical and emotional demands of competing in the incredibly difficult sport.