DHL Launches Sprint School

 

Story posted January 15, 2007

 

DHL Exel Supply Chain has been supporting the youth racing at the hugely successful Revolution series this season in the shape of the DHL Future Stars. Their sponsorship was always intended to serve as a springboard for developing further youth development initiatives. Now, as Revolution season 4 draws to a close DHL is set to announce an exciting new concept to support youth cycling and develop promising young riders to their full potential - The DHL Sprint School.

 

Right: Craig MacLean, one of the Worlds top Sprinters.

The DHL Sprint School will take place six times throughout 2007 and will culminate in a 'Baby Revolution' at Newport Velodrome in October. The programmes for the schools have been developed with help of Iain Dyer, Head Sprint Coach at the Olympic Development Programme, and will be delivered by British Cycling Talent Team coaches. The aim of the schools is to provide coaching and competitive opportunities for young riders who are not already on the superbly successful British Cycling Talent Team.

The Sprint School is open to riders who are too young to be eligible for the Talent Team and provides an additional opportunity for young talent to be identified for selection. The schools will be open to riders between the ages of 12 and 15 who have track accreditation. This ensures a fair cross section of young riders. Every Track League in the country has been approached and asked to nominate 4 riders per school, (2 girls and 2 boys,) who they feel would benefit from the sprint schools. The schools will have a sports academy feel, with on track training as well as off the bike workshops which will include subjects such as nutrition, bike maintenance and racing etiquette.

One of the truly unique aspects of the Sprint School is that it will be supported and fronted by some of the World's greatest sprinters enabling participants in the schools to get the opportunity to meet and learn from such stars as World Championship Silver medallist in the Sprint Craig MacLean and former World Womens Sprint Champion and current Commonwealth Games Sprint champion Victoria Pendleton (pictured right).

Craig MacLean will be the face of the Sprint School for the first year and hopes to see more young cyclists going into sprinting rather than endurance events "Sprinting is such a specific discipline, I sometimes think it doesn't get as much support as the endurance events but it is a such a fun part of the sport so getting young riders interested in it from an early age can only help benefit the sport as we head towards a home games in 2012."

Guy Elliott, CEO DHL Exel Supply Chain,is enthusiastic about the Sprint School format, "DHL is delighted to work with Face Partnership and the Revolution series to introduce a new element to sprint racing. We hope to attract more young people to the sport and provide them with a fantastic opportunity to learn from our top riders. It would be a wonderful achievement if some of these aspiring young riders are able to kick-start their cycling careers and gain access to the 2012 Olympic development programme through attending the sprint schools this year."

The school will be launched at the Manchester Velodrome at 5pm before the final Revolution of the season on January 20th.