British Cycling's Olympic Academy Programme - Men's Endurance is now recruiting for a new intake of under-23 riders to make their next step towards a career on the track or road.
A place on the Academy Programme is something only those riders with the ability to make significant progress towards a two-three year goal of a medal at under-23 and senior European or World Championships will achieve. Past experience suggests that the 2016 Olympic Games team will include riders from the current Academy, it’s certainly there to play for with talent & dedication. Competition for places is unsurprisingly high with a very limited number of places reflecting the limited number of Olympic medals available at the top of the sport, so only riders demonstrating truly exceptional ability will earn membership.
The Academy programme is full time, requiring a strong work ethic to survive and progress. Young riders need to live and breathe cycling and devote their coming years to the achievement of challenging goals. The support provided and commitment of the Olympic Programme staff to assisting riders to achieve these goals is as high as the commitment expected from the riders.
As a talented male endurance rider you will be expected to commit to training and racing on both the track and the road, although opportunities will arise to specialise at the appropriate point in the season or your own development.
The programme is based in Manchester throughout the winter months, with track work the priority during this period. Opportunities will be created to race internationally as well as to train full time in the World Class Manchester Velodrome. Successful applicants will be resident in our Academy accommodation in Manchester. Through the summer months the programme focuses on racing on the road, with a programme of both international and domestic events.
No stone is left unturned to provide the best coaching, sports science input, equipment appropriate to the stage of development, nutrition support, medical and hygiene advice, educational support, clothing, injury prevention and rehabilitation, tactical advice, race support, track time, coaching, training programme, mental preparation. This list continues to grow in the team's unending quest for excellence. Academy riders are provided via UK Sport lottery funding with a small grant, from which they are required to make a contribution towards programme / accommodation costs. There is a regular education programme throughout the winter months aimed at providing riders with the life skills needed to make a successful transition post academy into a professional full time career as a cyclist. This programme can include language skills, nutrition, budgeting, as well as time management and media training.
HISTORY
British Cycling's Olympic Academy Programme was introduced in 2004; that included Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish, and Olympic Champions Geraint Thomas and Ed Clancy. Since that time, the Academy has grown exponentially to incorporate all Olympic disciplines, with most riders residential in apartment style accommodation in Manchester over the winter months. Previous residents of the Academy also include Steven Burke, Alex Dowsett, Sam Harrison, Peter Kennaugh, Ben Swift.
Learning from the successes of the Men's Endurance Academy, parallel programmes were developed for Track Sprint, Mountain Bike Cross Country, BMX Supercross and Women's Endurance. This is far from a one size fits all model though; in recognition of the specific needs of the different cycling disciplines; each Programme differs slightly.
THE COACH
The Men's Endurance Academy coach, Chris Newton, has a palmares which speaks for itself with a history of successes at international level on the track and road; multiple medallist at Olympic Games, World Championships and Commonwealth Games. Chris has brought to the Academy a great structure as well as high expectations from his riders to undertake to the very best of their ability the hard work. Chris knows what is needed to succeed in the sport at this level.
For a taste of life on the programme:
Sam Harrison Strikes Gold In Beijing
Under-23 Riders On Form Ahead Of European Championships
APPLICATIONS
Application forms can be downloaded here: Download. Applications must be sent via e-mail only to Academy@britishcycling.org.uk
British Cycling Equality Monitoring Form - Download
Application deadline dates: 3rd September 2012.
Successful applicants will be advised by the end of September. There may be a requirement for successful applicants to begin a preparation training programme provided by Chris Newton from 1st October to 1st November when the residential Academy is likely to begin.
