Glendene Cycling Club in association with its sponsor Biketrax of Brentwood has just announced the launch of its 2006 Junior Development and Senior teams.

2006 Junior Development Team
Managed by former professional Bob Downs, the 2006 Junior Development Team comprises of nine riders, five of whom have also been selected for Great Britain’s Olympic Development Programme (ODP) – the first step to the 2012 London Olympics.

Last year’s junior team proved to be an extremely well balanced unit; they worked collectively to achieve national and international honours. The nucleus of the team: Alex Dowsett, Russell Hampton, Jonathan Bellis and Jim Lord are retained; Kristian Downs and Lewis Atkins leave the junior ranks for the natural progression to the senior team. Their replacements are Matt Rowe and his brother Luke, from Wales, Peter Kennaugh from the Isle of Man, Andrew Griffiths from Hornchurch and Maldon’s Shaun Hurrell.

The junior team will be facing an ambitious racing schedule for the forthcoming season, challenging for international honours in Belgium, arguably the hardest racing in the world that will test their physical and mental limits. British Cycling’s Junior Road Race Series and other senior UK events will also be targetted with the aim of preparing the young riders for possible entry into the under 23 GB Academy and the step up to senior level. The club is also working closely with the head coaches of British Cycling in order to add value to the work that the selected riders are putting in on the track within the ODP.

“It is both exciting and refreshing to see a club with this kind of drive for elite performance, if more clubs can be encouraged to create this kind of aspirational stepping stone for club riders, British Cycling will inevitably benefit from an enhanced competition structure. Well done and good luck to all at the Glendene Cycling Club!” Chris Boardman MBE

2006 Senior Team
Based on the phenomenal success of the 2005 junior team, the senior team, managed by former Vets World Champion Tony Woodcock, will include two of last year’s youngsters, Lewis Atkins and Kristian Downs.

The team is a talented mix of experience, proven ability at national level, and younger end power and energy. Captain on the road will be former Milk Race king of the mountains winner, Mark McKay, whose experience and ability will enable him to lead the squad to the high profile results to which the riders are committed to achieving. The homegrown club talent of Edward Whitehorn and Matt Talbot, along with new recruit Ben Hallam, have all tasted success at top-level national senior road racing.

Expected to step up to, and impact on the senior racing scene, are the highly talented first year seniors Lewis Atkins and Kristian Downs, along with new member Chris Bartlett.

All the riders have great individual talent and our aim is to build ourselves into one of the most formidable UK teams. 2006 objectives for the senior team are to be competitive in British Cycling’s Premier Calendar Series, the National Criterium Series and to race successfully in Belgium.

LINKS:
• www.glendenecc.org.uk
• Story originally from LondonCycleSport.com