Great Britain Cycling Team Home Page

Becoming a Member of the GB Cycling Team

Applications to become a member of the GB Cycling Team - Olympic Podium, Olympic Academy, Olympic Development & Paralympic Programmes - should all be directed through the team's Administration Manager, Alison Johnson.

Contact Alison at:
British Cycling
National Cycling Centre
Stuart St
Manchester
M11 4DQ

0161 274 2092
email alisonjohnson@britishcycling.org.uk

To view the GB Cycling Olympic Programmes 2010 Selection and Retention Guidelines document, click here - Download

Great Britain Cycling Team FAQs

I note with interest that there is a new initiative being introduced 'girls4gold' to identify talent in young women for various sports, cycling being one of them. What about young men with a sprint talent?

Depending on the age of the rider, the best way to find out if you have an aptitude for track sprinting is to give it a try. Check out the track section on the British Cycling website, search facilities and find out where your nearest track is.

What does being in one of the Squads involve?
The answer to this is very much age dependant.

In the Talent Programme from 13 to 16 years old, you will be assigned a coach who will prescribe training and racing to fit around your education. You'll need to commit to completing and returning a training diary and attending approximately 4 camps of 4 to 7 days during the year (in school holiday time). Opportunities may also arise to race overseas.

In the Olympic Development Programme for junior riders, 16 to 18 years old, you will be coached by a discipline specific coach, again you'll have a training and racing schedule set around your educational needs, and need to commit to completing and returning regular training diaries. Residential camps are held in school holidays, and there are opportunities to represent Great Britain internationally

In the U23 Academy Programme riders normally commit to full time residential focussed training. Many of the disciplines have their base in Manchester, with the men's road riders also having a summer base in Italy. Riders still completing A levels can be considered, and a non-residential programme can in some circumstances be put in place by the Academy coach.

In the Podium Programme, riders receive all the coaching, equipment, clothing needed to be a professional rider, racing predominantly internationally, but living independently and responsible for their own training programmes.

At what level would I have to be at, to be accepted in a program?
For Talent / ODP you will need to be one of the best National level riders in the country - proven via race results at National series or National Championships level as well as other competition and testing. For Academy upwards you will need to prove that you are capable of getting results on the International stage, whether at Junior level or above.

How do I become part of talent team?
Get involved with your local Go-Ride club - the Go-Ride club coaches speak regularly to the Talent coaches about local riders who they feel have the ability to benefit from the Talent Programme. Talent coaches run 'Regional School of Racing' sessions that riders showing potential will be invited to and again club coaches are active in nominating youngsters to these sessions.
The regional track omniums, National series, and National Championships results (in all disciplines) are also a sure fire way to get noticed.

Do you think the level I am at is high enough to apply to one of the programmes? If yes how do I apply?
If you are Junior or U23 the programmes take in new riders every autumn when the opportunity to apply is advertised on the British Cycling website during the months of July / August / September. If you are a younger rider, contact the admin office for the details of your local talent coach who will happily get in touch with your parents / you to advise of opportunities in your area where the coach can consider your potential. At Podium level, an application is rarely needed - if you have won medals at U23 level in European or World Cup / Championships level you will be in consideration for the programme. There is a limit to the number of riders on the Podium Programme so you will need to either out-compete existing members, or demonstrate you have the potential to get to the top within the space of a couple of years.

I would like to progress in the sport because I have really enjoyed the races which I have taken part in. However, I am not sure where to go from the club time trial
If you haven't competed at a National level but are serious about progression you need to take those first steps to move towards a level where you can safely and competently compete at National level. Check out the British website area for your discipline, and find a local club where the expertise and experience is usually to hand to help you consider your training programme and appropriate races. You may even find a qualified and willing coach to help you on your way.

I was wondering if there was a junior GB team and how I could join?
The Olympic Development Programme aims to develop junior riders to the level where they will be competitive internationally. Each year European Championships and / or World Championships teams are selected to represent Great Britain on merit. Selection for such teams is carried out looking at riders prowess in competition - National series events, Revolution events etc.

I was wondering how someone would apply for the under 23 GB cycle programme? Do you need to have a certain degree of experience? I am motivated with a desire to succeed at becoming a great cyclist.
You certainly do need to have experience, at the U23 level you need to have proven yourself as able to race with the best international young riders. The Academy Programme aims to complete the education and development of young athletes who are already skilled young bike riders, with bike handling skills, tactical knowledge and a great level of fitness. This is not a programme for the inexperienced racer. If you've joined the sport late, you may have missed the opportunity for the U23 programme but this doesn't mean there is no chance of making it to the Podium Programme. Take a look on the British Cycling website at the discipline you are interested in and you can find out more information - about how to start in competition, about how to find a club, and a coach etc.

How do I get to compete in BMX in 2012
Firstly, it is worth bearing in mind that to be eligible for 2012 competition you will need to be 19 years old in the year of the Games. This is a rule set by the international governing body. If you're a young and enthusiastic rider then get involved, join a club, get out there and race. There's a talent programme for BMX, find out who your local coach is and get in touch. By 2011 we would hope that the riders likely to be representing Great Britain in 2012 would be making finals / semi finals in continental series competition (European Championships) and in Supercross events.

I am a second / third year U23 rider (aged 20 / 21), can I still apply for the U23 Academy?
The Academy primarily takes riders as soon as they leave the junior category - normal entry age is 18 which enables a two to three year (or longer) period of development in the academy. To be successful in gaining an entry to the academy at this age you would need to demonstrate that you are competing at a similar level to those existing academy members. For example, on the road this would mean regular wins / results at International UCI 1.2 or 2.2 classed events. Your performances would need to parallel the same aged riders on the academy.