British Cycling has joined with other UK-based mountain bike course providers to form the Association of Mountain Bike Guides (ABMG), in order to provide British mountain bike leaders with increased opportunities to work abroad.

The ABMG is affiliated with the European Organisation for Mountain Bike Guides, which is working to generate a mountain bike leadership award which will be widely recognised across the continent.

British Cycling will now help to fine-tune details of the European Award, which is due to be finalised later in 2018 and will ensure that British Cycling level 3 mountain bike leaders – who have the necessary amount of European riding experience – can progress and operate on the continent.

Dan Cook, of British Cycling, said:

“We are delighted to join the ABMG and play our part in furthering opportunities for those who share our passion for mountain biking. The development of this continent-wide award is excellent news for British leaders and riders alike, and will ultimately give more of our members the chance to enjoy cycling on some of the most spectacular terrain in the world.”

As with all British Cycling qualifications, a good level of prior experience and understanding of the region in which you would be operating as a leader will be crucial. 

Leaders with aspirations to work in Europe are encouraged to build personal experience in those regions as well as additional leading experience in the environment and locations for which they are currently qualified. European experience should not be limited to just mountain biking, but include aspects such as culture, language, local weather and its impact on riders, legalities and rights of access.

As more information emerges and courses become available, British Cycling will circulate information via its mountain bike e-newsletter will publish details.  This is currently sent quarterly to all British Cycling mountain bike leaders – please contact mtbleadership@britishcycling.org.uk if you don’t currently receive the newsletter.