Edited: 2 May 2019

Great Britain Cycling Team's Academy is now recruiting for junior and under-23 athletes to join the endurance (track and road) and track sprint academies. For youth and junior riders (riding in a minimum of 15s in BMX) to join the BMX and mountain bike cross-country Development Programmes and those over the age of 18 to join the Senior Programmes.

Competition for places is unsurprisingly high with the limited number of places a reflection of the limited number of medals available at the top of the sport. Only riders demonstrating exceptional abilities and qualities will earn membership onto this illustrious programme – our aim is to prioritise those with the best chance of graduating to the British Cycling Olympic Podium Programme in the next four to six years.

BMX supercross and mountain bike cross-country Development Programmes

These programmes are designed to provide the early extra support required as young riders to develop into the next generation of senior athletes. Delivered as a series of training events along with a structured competition programme (possibly including national and international opportunities), the programme is geared towards the riders long-term development and is a strong foundation for future success.

To be considered for next year’s mountain bike and BMX Development Programmes, we are looking riders that:

• Are racing a minimum of 15s in UEC events (BMX) on 1 September 2019
• Are racing a minimum of 2nd year Youth category (MTB) on 1 September 2019
• Hold (or are eligible for) a British passport
• Regularly finish on the podium at national junior and/or youth races.

Junior Academy – Road and track endurance and track sprint

This is a key stepping stone for junior age riders to develop as full-time cyclists. Delivered as a series of training camps, along with a structured competition programme (including national and international opportunities), the programme is geared towards the riders long-term development and is a strong foundation for future success. Click here for more information.

To be considered for next year’s Junior Academy, we are looking for riders that:

• Are born in 2002 and 2003
• Hold (or are eligible for) a British passport
• Regularly finish on the podium at national junior and/or youth races.

Senior Academy – Road and track endurance and track sprint

This is a full-time residential programme and requires 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 the commitment of the programme staff to assisting riders to achieve these goals is as high as the commitment expected from the riders. Click here for more information.

To be considered for next year’s Senior Academy we are looking riders that:

• Are aged between 18 - 21 years on the 1 January 2019.
• Hold (or are eligible for) a British passport
• Regularly finish on the podium at national and international junior, under-23 and/or senior races

Membership criteria

Academy coaches and staff will consider the following aspects when reviewing applications:

• Performances at national and international races
• Bike skills and tactical awareness
• Physical capacity
• Attitude and aptitude

Timeframes

• Applications are open until Monday 18 July 2019
• Short-listed riders may be invited to attend an assessment day or camp – these will be held during August 2019
• All applicants will be advised by Monday 19 August 2019 if they have been successful
• The Senior Academy is currently scheduled to start on Monday 7 October 2019 – ‘move-in’ will be arranged ahead of this date on the 5/6 October 2019
• The first Junior Academy camp dates will be posted at a later date

If you have any further queries about the application process, please contact pathway@britishcycling.org.uk