The Great Britain Cycling Team is now accepting applications for riders looking to join the junior and senior academy programmes for sprint, endurance, MTB XC, BMX SX and BMX FSP.
The Great Britain Cycling Team (GBCT) is the most successful Olympic and Paralympic sports team in British history. Its Performance Pathways support the development journey for the country’s most promising riders all the way to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The academy boasts alumni such as Dame Laura Kenny and teammate Jo Rowsell, who were part of the Junior Academy, Tom Pidcock, Ed Clancy and Mark Cavendish – to name a few.
The Great Britain Cycling Team has opened applications across five disciplines in order to seek out the next best talent to be developed by its world class coaches and support programme, to become the best of the best both on and off the bike.
RIDER EXPERIENCE
Athletes that have followed the pathway include track sprinter Emma Finucane, Paralympic champion, tandem pilot Helen Scott, who is now part of the Paralympic coaching team and BMX supercross rider Ross Cullen.
Helen Scott, MBE, paralympic foundation coach and ex-tandem pilot
“Being part of the Academy was fundamental to my development as an athlete and my progression onto the Podium Programme, as well as my development as a person.
“The relationships I developed over the course of my time on the Academy, both with my team mates, and staff, set me up for great things in my career.”
Ross Cullen, BMX SX rider
“I believe coming up through the academy taught me to become the professional athlete I am today” The academy gives great insight into what it takes to become a full time BMX athlete, and not only that… make some great memories along the way!”
Emma Finucane, senior academy sprint cyclist:
“Being part of the senior academy has given me so many opportunities to race around the world, meet new people and help develop my technical and tactical skills on the bike. The world class coaches in the gym and on the track are helping me physically, as well as laying the foundations to make me a world class bike rider.
“The senior academy has taught me to be self sufficient, learning to cook, clean and look after myself. But mainly I feel like part of a team where I can grow on and off the bike.”
GBCT offers a range of pathways, all aligned to a single philosophy, which is to develop the best performance cyclists and people that we can. We believe that we have one of the best sporting talent development systems in the world and one that is constantly striving to improve and evolve.
ACADEMY OVERVIEWS
The Junior Academy is focused on developing the country’s best junior riders, ensuring that they are ready for life as full-time athletes. This will include opportunities to race at international competitions in preparation for riding in major events at a senior level.
Overview of key elements per discipline:
- Sprint and Endurance Junior Academies: Age 16 – 18, camp based, decentralised
- MTB-XC Junior Academy: Age 16-18, camp based, decentralised
- BMX-SX Junior Academy: Age 15-18, camp based, decentralised
- BMX-FP Junior Academy: Age 14+, camp based, decentralised
The Senior Academy’s aim is simple: to fine-tune athletes and ensure they are ready to dominate the top-step of world and Olympic race podiums in the future.
Overview of key elements per discipline:
- Sprint and Endurance Senior Academies: Age 18-22, centralised, full-time
- MTB-XC Senior Academy: Age 18-22, decentralised, full-time
- BMX-SX Senior Academy: Age 18-22, centralised, full-time
- BMX-FP Senior Academy: Age 18+, centralised, full-time
Academy applications are open until 11.59pm on Thursday 21st July. You can find more information and apply here.
