There is a scripture which says, “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he”. Listening to Massimiliano Ambrosi, or just Massi, as he is known to family and friends, the current SA U23 Cross Country Mountain Bike Champion, it is immediately apparent why he is such a successful young athlete. His clarity of purpose and vision for the future is crystal clear.
Massi has the lean, ripped physique of a professional endurance athlete. It came as no surprise to learn that he has always been sport crazy. He gave everything a crack at school. Tennis, athletics, cross country, swimming, hockey, you name it, and he did it! Cycling was always a favourite. He rode bicycles for the sheer fun of it, getting back from whatever sport he participated in, and then hopping on his bike for a ride. Weekend rides with his dad and mates just put him in his happy place.
After leaving school, he spent a year in the USA, doing his first year of Physiotherapy at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina. The location is prime mountain biking country, so Massi enjoyed riding there, often with his Austrian roommate, also a keen mountain biker. Whilst in the States, he got to ride some of the races which attracted top mountain bikers, against whom he got some impressive results. He sees his time in the States as a time of personal and professional growth. Competing against top-class riders successfully built his confidence and self-belief to the extent that he decided to put his studies on hold and give international mountain bike racing a full go.
Where many would wilt in the face of international competition, it was incredibly motivating for Massi. He recalls, “Those first international racing experiences really opened my eyes to the level of competition overseas. It lit a fire in me to train harder, keep learning, and push myself so that I can compete at the top end internationally. Racing overseas, at that level, in that environment, motivated me even more”.
In 2025, his focus was on the SA U23 XCO Championship. Winning the SA Champions striped jersey was a prime goal. Working with his coach, Barry Austin, who developed Massi’s self-belief and brought proper structure to his physical training, saw it all come together beautifully, culminating with the Championship in the bag.
Massi recognises that without the right people in your corner, it is an almost impossible uphill battle. His folks have always been incredibly supportive, and he acknowledges that they play a huge role in his success. The same applies to his sponsors. Trek provide him with the world-class equipment and support structure imperative to competing at the top level. Aucor Properties has been a long-term supporter and has made a huge difference in his competing efforts. Biogen provide his nutrition, an essential in today’s competitive racing environment. Besides, Masi is also supported by brands like Biogen, Ciovita, Garmin, and cSixx. The commitment of his sponsors provides additional motivation to Massi, who wants to get the best results to reward them for their unwavering support.
Given that Massi has achieved what he has to date at just 20 years old, it is fair to say that the future burns bright. His aim in 2026 is to defend his SA U23 XCO Championship, be a consistent top performer and break into the top ten on the international circuit. Coming away from our chat left me with the impression of a very high-quality young man who is very clear on where he wants to go and what he needs to do to get there. When at home, he revels in the time spent training, being a designated driver for his younger brothers, and indulging his passion for cooking by preparing meals for his family.
Watch this young athlete. He has all it takes to succeed at the highest level. A poster boy for what sponsors dream about, I truly believe that given the right breaks, the world is his oyster!! Go get them boytjie! We are behind you all the way!
