Golden Grant flies through mountain bike course to grab Shetland’s first gold of games

CYCLIST Grant Ferguson grabbed Shetland’s first gold medal of the 2025 Island Games after storming to victory in the cross-country mountain bike race.

The 31-year-old – who competed at the 2016 Olympics in Rio for Team GB – had secured a superb silver medal in the men’s individual mountain bike criterium on Tuesday.

And he went one better at the Binscarth Farm course this afternoon (Thursday), leading from the front after three laps to eventually finish almost two minutes clear of second place.

Despite continuing strong heat, and a punishing course that saw riders complete 10 laps over the course of more than 90 minutes, the isles cyclist pulled ahead and continued to extend his lead over the course of the race.

A delighted Ferguson told Shetland News after the race he had been aiming to win medals in his two mountain biking races.

“A medal in both my races was the goal and I’m really happy to have done that,” he said.

“I’m really happy we managed to pull it off.”

Fellow Shetland cyclist Cameron Read crossed the finish line in 22nd in a time of 2:10.18, with the teenager – competing at his first games – even having the audacity to enjoy a wheely around the course at one point.

The gold medal is Shetland’s 14th of the Island Games, and moves them up the overall medal table into 12th place.