WITH preparations nearing an end, Kingsbridge cyclist Seb Dickens is hoping lady luck will this time be smiling down on him as he goes in search of gold at the Sainsbury's 2014 School Games. The 15-year-old had to make do with bronze in the individual time trial on the road at last year's Games in Sheffield, although he was left with the feeling that a potential gold had slipped away. Riding for South West in the team time trial, the squad had developed a healthy lead going into the final kilometre but a crash involving two of their riders wiped them out of contention completely. But with another solid year of riding in his legs, Kingsbridge Community College pupil Dickens has renewed confidence ahead of this year's Games in Manchester. In April he won the Youth Tour of Scotland while May saw Dickens finish third in the under-16 North West International Youth Tour and, with encouraging track results also forthcoming, he is looking up. 'I have done most of the hard intensity training for the Games, now it's about tapering off and keeping myself in the right shape,' said Dickens, who will compete at Manchester's National Cycling Centre at the Games. 'I do a lot of winter training to get the miles in my legs and then as the season approaches we tailor it so that I have the zip in my legs. 'This year has been going really well. At the start of the year I won the overall Youth Tour of Scotland and won two stages. I was also third in the North West International Youth Tour. 'Last year I won bronze at the Games but the team time trial was a bit disappointing as we were leading comfortably with a kilometre to go and then two of our team crashed and we were out. 'I have done track races before and I would like to hope my results improve. I just really like the atmosphere at the Games and everything about it, it's a great experience and I'm looking forward to getting back there.' The School Games give the UK's elite young athletes the opportunity to showcase their talent in a multi-sport event and Dickens admits such experiences whet his appetite for a future cycling career. He said: 'For the next few years I'm aiming to get on the Olympic development programme that is run by British cycling.' 'And then in the long term, it would be great to ride for a professional team and get to the Olympics. I think the track would be my first aim as it is a really good programme by British Cycling. 'We will see how things go but I really enjoy my cycling.' The Sainsbury's 2014 School Games, which is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust, finishes in Manchester on Sunday. Visit http://www.2014schoolgames.com">www.2014schoolgames.com for more information.