Road To 2016
Dibben set for world cup debut in Glasgow
UCI Track Cycling World Cup coverage
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Jon Dibben, one of British Cycling’s latest Olympic Academy Programme members, will make his world cup debut in Glasgow this week, following a transformational September.
Within two weeks Dibben finished fifth at the junior road world championships, was informed of his selection to the Olympic Academy and claimed four medals at the British Track Championships, before moving to Manchester as part of a system that nurtured Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas.
Dibben described his progression from the Olympic Development Programme to the Academy as his aim for the last two years, but admitted he did not look beyond the first five-week block of training and an appearance at the Glasgow track world cup round.
“I was aiming to complete training and get used to the Academy lifestyle,” Dibben told of his immediate ambitions when he joined the squad in September.
“I didn’t think my first world cup selection would come so soon, but coming in post-Olympics at a time when Geraint and Pete Kennaugh have gone onto road, when Ed Clancy is riding with the sprint squad – that has left three places open and it’s good for the Academy. It’ll be interesting to see how I fair up in world cup competition, I’ve ridden world championships at a junior level, but seniors will be a massive step up.”
Dibben will have to wait to see just how much of a step up, but if his gauge of the Academy lifestyle is anything to go by, he won’t face too many surprises.
“Since I joined, it has been exactly what I thought. I knew what to expect after talking with Owain Doull and Ali Slater about their first year on the Programme. It’s been better compared to my camps on the ODP, when you’re based in a hotel. Because the Academy is residential, you’re at home as such, so you can do what you want when you’re not training, so it’s good fun.”
And Dibben makes no secret of the educational values of training on the track with a coaches and athletes who have tasted Olympic success.
“Andy Tennant and Steven Burke have been on my training sessions and I’ve learned so much from them and Chris Newton and Dan Hunt. You learn so much, especially the little things. When Andy says something you know it’s what you need to do, as long as you do what they say you’ll get better.”
The acid test will come on Friday, as world cup competition begins in Glasgow – where British Cycling will be providing live reports and reaction from racing.
