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Michael Greenway and Canadian former pro Ryder Hesjedal

Michael Greenway, a boy from West Vancouver, Canada, completed the race on a mountain bike with 20 inch wheels

Junior Writer

Most of us were just getting the stabilisers off at five years old, but Michael Greenway, a five-year-old boy from Canada, is already on the racing circuit. As part of the Tour de Victoria, Canada, Greenway completed the 60km race course in 3:37:35, averaging just over 17kph – not bad, given he was riding a tiny mountain bike with 20-inch wheels.

Remarkably, this is not Michael's first foray into the world of racing. Last year, at age four, he completed the 45km Tour de Victoria race, and the year before that, at just three years old, he rode the 30km route. As his father, Andrew Greenway said to local news outlet, North Shore News, "he always wants to race."

Michael's father went on: "He’s very competitive. [...] Sometimes we think he’s a little too mature. But in the end, he’s still a five-year-old and likes to play and do kid things."

On the bike, though, Michael is focused and competitive. His father describes how when he swings a leg over, "he switches and he’s just in that competitive mode."

Owing to his unique abilities, Greenway has garnered a lot of attention in the local area, including from Canadian cycling legend and ex-pro Ryder Hesjedal. Hesjedal won the 2012 Giro d'Italia, making him the only Canadian to have won a Grand Tour. Since then, he's founded the Tour de Victoria race, and this year, he caught up with Michael Greenway before the start. When Hesjedal asked if Michael was looking forward to the race, the youngster responded, "I want to win."

As is the story in so many races, Greenway was somewhat let down by his equipment. The fact is that it's impossible to find a road bike in such a small size, so Greenway is forced to settle for a mountain bike. Although his bright green MTB fits him, the gearing is nowhere near high enough for a rider of his ability. His father said, "The problem is he spins out the gears. [...] He's got to spin at a much higher cadence to try and keep up".

With such a passion for riding and racing, it seems likely that the Greenway name is one we'll see cropping up in the coming years. Who knows what Michael will be capable of once he gets on a proper drop bar bike?