GB Under-23 Endurance Academy team to ride as '100% ME'
News Updated 6th December 2006
Great Britain Cycling Team Performance Director, Dave Brailsford, explains to the press and riders more about the collaboration between his team and the 100% ME programme.
This week at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, saw the launch of a unique and world leading collaboration between British Cycling and UK Sport. The athletes in the Great Britain Cycling Team's Under-23 Olympic Endurance Academy, will compete in the new '100% ME' branded team, which takes its name from UK Sport's anti-doping education programme.
The country's most promising young endurance cyclists will fly the flag for drug-free sport and will make their debut in the 100% Me colours this Saturday at the Revolution International Track open in Manchester. The riders in the new initiative are Ben Swift; Steven Burke; Jonny Bellis; Russell Hampton; Ross Sander; Ian Stannard; Andy Tennant; and Alex Dowsett.
By taking on the 100% ME name, the team is committed to not only compete drug-free, but to help promote the positive values of ethically fair sport. At the launch of the team's sponsorship with 100% ME were five of the cyclists in the team who talked to the assembled media and also did radio interviews.
The manager of the Olympic Academy (Endurance) team is Rod Ellingworth (pictured above), who explained to the press how the riders came to be part of this ground breaking initiative. With the 2008 Olympics fast approaching, Rod explained, he wanted to ensure his riders had opportunities to compete in UCI World Track Cups separate to Team GB and he approached his Performance Director, Dave Brailsford to see what could be done.
"I wanted to make sure that the Olympic Academy team could run separately to the senior team so that we were not taking any resources or time out of the programme for the 2008 Olympic Team, which is what the whole team is about. I know these Academy guys need a bit of room at the World Track Cups to develop and gain the experience required and now that the opportunity exists for pro' teams to compete in World Track Cups, I said to Dave (Brailsford) I want to be able to take a team to these World Cups, separate to Team GB".
"He came back with this initiative, which from my point of view is really good idea, a great concept."
After their first outing at the Revolution Track Open this coming weekend (December 9), the riders will ride in the team's colours at all domestic events (track leagues, national championships etc) and at two of the 2006/07 UCI World Track Cups which fit into their training programme, namely Los Angeles and Manchester.
Rod then went on to explain what it meant to be getting the message out there that the team is committed to performing 'clean'. "We are all proud here at British Cycling that we run a clean programme and this concept is great. I think sooner rather than later in cycling, it will be cool to be clean. I don't think any other sport would get the positive publicity we will, because it's cycling that has had so much negative press in the past."
The success of Rod's riders is based on hard work and the superb back up they get from the team. This enables them to deliver results cleanly. He explained that the 'boot camp' phase they are currently in will continue to December 22 before they have a short break. They will then return to training at the start of January when they begin their preparation for the Los Angeles World Track Cup.
Once that is finished, their focus will turn to the Manchester World Track Cup, before they go into an endurance phase in Italy, leading up to the year's main focus, the European Track Championships in Cottbus (Germany). 
The key driving force behind the GB Cycling Team not only being 'clean' but being seen to be 'clean', is Performance Director Dave Brailsford (pictured right). After being approached by Rod, Dave went to the people behind 100% ME and they agreed to a collaboration. He then went to Cycling Weekly and they agreed the team would also bear the logo of their 'I Support Drug-Free Sport' logo.
"This is a first of its kind" Dave told British Cycling's website "and we are very very proud to take that step forward. Whilst I applaud what the guys at T-Mobile and Bob Stapleton are trying to do in introducing an anti-doping philosophy into that team, we have been taking blood from our riders for a good couple of years now so that we could monitor our own riders to make sure that everything is above board."
"We want to be at the forefront in the battle against doping. We're funded by public money and that brings an added responsibility to the public of this country to show that we do it right. For us to win, it is not at any cost. We want to win as much as anyone else but we have our principles as well and we don't want a hollow victory by cheating."
"The credibility and reputation of cycling has suffered over the years as a result of high profile doping cases. This is unfortunate as it detracts from the huge amount of talent we have at our disposal in the UK, and the hard work, dedication and determination that goes into providing a world-class system for our riders to perform and win medals at the highest level".
"Prohibited substances have no place in our sport and the quicker we can spread that message, the better. Our link up with 100% ME provides a platform for this and will hopefully create some momentum within the sport to change people's perceptions, and ensure our riders get the credit they deserve for their performances."
On choosing the Olympic Endurance Academy as the vehicle to promote a clean team, he said "I see this as a great opportunity to take a stance, to hold our heads up high and say we really do support drug free sport. It is a big responsibility for these riders but one they already carry being part of Team GB where it is cool to be clean."
Asked how the team supports the preparation of their riders, the Performance Director says "we look at every single element that affects performance and try and find a one per cent improvement in every single thing. Things such as nutrition, sports psychology, sports science, coaching, the bike, the kit and we also have all the Sports Analyst work from the EIS done as well. We're full on with everything we do and I think that is how we can compete with those who are perhaps not clean because they rely on the drugs as a crutch which makes them lazy. And therein lies their weakness which gives us the opportunity to compete and beat these riders."
Asked how the riders are monitored now by UK Sport, the Performance Director explained "They are all on the 'whereabouts' system which is for out of competition testing which is very comprehensive. We're very happy with how that system is developing and working with UK Sport on making it better. Random out of competition testing is a great step in the right direction."
Anton de Villiers (pictured right) from 100% ME said of the link up with British Cycling "it is a very positive step forward and we're really excited to be aligned with British Cycling. It's a very progressive sporting body which has come out and taken responsibility for anti doping which is a fantastic message to put to the other national sporting organisations and to the general public".
"We know British Cycling, and we know the team, so we're confident with our support that all athletes will be able to make informed choices all the way along and get to the podium clean."
John Scott, Director of Drug-Free Sport at UK Sport, the National Anti-Doping Organisation for the UK, said:
"Signing up as the 100% ME team is a real statement of intent from British Cycling that doping in the sport will not be tolerated. The programme focuses on the attributes required to succeed in sport, such as belief, resilience and commitment. These mirror what the likes of Chris Hoy and Nicole Cooke - both 100% ME ambassadors - have displayed throughout their careers so it is appropriate that our first ever 100% ME team is in cycling. The enthusiasm with which British Cycling has taken up 100% ME is a real credit to all involved and sends out a strong message to their counterparts in cycling and the wider sporting world."
"In the 18 months since it launched, 100% ME has already made a huge impact in terms of getting quality, timely information out to those who need it. The launch of the 100% ME cycling team is the start of the next stage of evolution of the programme which we hope will help raise the profile of anti-doping education internationally, as there is no doubt such programmes have a key role to play in helping athletes compete drug-free."
What the Riders Say ...
Left to Right: Ian Stannard, Jonny Bellis, Steven Burke, Russell Hampton and Ben Swift.
Talking to some of the riders after the press conference, they were all well up for being part of such a major initiative that the '100% ME' programme is.
"It's exciting to be part of this new project" said World Junior championship Silver medallist Jonny Bellis. "We're ambassadors for our sport and are trying to promote having a clean sport across the UK and the World. It will show people that we can win bike races without performance enhancing drugs".
Jonny went on to add "we have known for years now our responsibility to compete clean because drug testing has been part of our lives and so we are knowledgeable on what not to use. This year I have been tested around eight times and two of them were out of competition tests".
The Isle of Man rider also admits there is a lot of pressure on the riders to be very careful what they take into their bodies to avoid any accidental positives because it is a team effort and none of them would want to jeopardise the 100% ME programme or indeed the medals won at major competitions.
To make sure they take in the right nutrition, Junior National Road Race champion Russell Hampton explained that "we're given our Science in Sport drinks to aid our recovery as well as helped to choose the right foods at the right moments which is where we get what we need to put in the hard work. We talk to Rod every day and he gives us feedback on when we're starting to tire and need a rest etc."
"We're all proud to be part of this" he added "and to show the younger riders and the media that we race clean and that cycling can be and is clean."
World Junior Championship medal winner Steven Burke says he also feels that there is now a lot of responsibility on their shoulders not to let their team mates down or the programme by eating anything which could jeopardise their future in the sport.
"If ever I need advice on nutrition I'll email or contact Nigel (the GB team's nutritionist) so I know what I need to eat for a particular part of the day or training programme" he explained. He then added that their training programme is hard but that it is also structured to make sure they don't get over tired and that help is always close at hand to help them cope with it.
British Cycling wishes all the riders in the team luck in the coming season as they take the "it's cool to be clean" message around the World.
What is 100% ME?
100% ME was launched by UK Sport in May 2005, with the long-term aim of 'creating a generation of sportsmen and women who know they don't need to use Prohibited Substances or Methods to be successful'. Since its launch, almost 20,000 athletes and support personnel have benefited from the programme, receiving up-to-date information and advice allowing them to make sensible, informed decisions about competing drug-free.
In addition, 310 tutors and advisers covering 46 sports have been trained to deliver education workshops to current and future competitors, whilst 38 athlete ambassadors have been signed up to act as role models to the next generation of sporting stars, showing what can be achieved competing cleanly and fairly.
RELATED LINKS:
100% ME Website: >>>>
Olympic Endurance Academy: >>>>