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Applications Open: Para-cycling Olympic Academy 2010/11
Posted September 12 2010
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The Para-cycling Academy is inviting applications for the 2010/11 programme.
The Great Britain Cycling Team's Para-Cycling Academy programme was introduced in 2009, initially with a group of 4 cyclists. Since that time, it has grown exponentially to incorporate all Paralympic disciplines, with most riders residential in apartment style accommodation in Manchester over the winter months.
The Academy Programme focuses on a track based residential winter season based in Manchester followed by a European focused road based race programme in the summer.
The Academy programme is full time regardless of cycling discipline, requiring a strong work ethic. To survive and/or progress, riders need to live and breathe cycling and devote their next years to the achievement of challenging goals. The residential element of the programme sees riders from all Paralympic cycling disciplines living in apartment style accommodation within shouting distance of each other in Fallowfield, Manchester so the squad never lack for training partners and company.
The support provided, and commitment of the Paralympic Programme's staff to assisting riders to achieve these goals, is as high as the commitment expected from the riders. 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, mental preparation; the list continues to grow in the unending quest for excellence.
Places on the Academy Programmes are reserved for only those riders with the ability to make significant progress towards a two to three year goal of a medal at World Championships or Paralympic Games. Competition for places is, of course, high with a very limited number of places reflecting the limited number of Paralympic medals available at the top of the sport, so only riders with truly exceptional ability will earn membership.
Application forms need to be submitted to the Performance Manager for Para-cycling - Gareth Sheppard, by the 18th October 2010.
