ŠKODA UK, in partnership with British Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, has confirmed three new female riders to join the ŠKODA DSI Cycling Academy.
The three selected riders are: Alex Morrice (22) a university student studying Physics and Chemistry from Guildford, Surrey; Katie-Ann (19) a Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation student from Southend-On-Sea, Essex; and Maia Forde (23) a Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner from Tooting, London.
The academy provides ambitious female cyclists, aged between 18-24, with a chance to learn and develop a clear direction within the sport so that they can maximise their potential.
The riders were selected following a testing day at the end of last month. The tests at the Lee Valley Velodrome included a series of Wattbike challenges followed by laps of the outdoor closed circuit to assess bike handling skills and straight-line speed.
Dame Sarah Storey, Academy Principal, said “I was so impressed with the level of all the riders taking part, their commitment, and the way they gelled together as a group.
“The tests were a six second peak power test, a three-minute maximal test then a 12-minute aerobic test, followed by two laps on the outdoor track. The riders all performed very well and gave absolutely everything – that there were so many riders slumped over their bikes at the end is testament to that!
“Congratulations to all the riders that took part in the testing day but ultimately three riders stood out for me and I’m excited to be working closely with Maia, Alex and Katie-Ann this year through the Academy programme.”
The 2022 ŠKODA DSI Cycling Academy programme, now in its fourth year, is designed to sit alongside each rider’s existing club or team activity, providing an opportunity to experience the life of a professional rider with on- and off-bike experiences throughout the year.
Dame Sarah Storey’s mentorship will include planning and bespoke advice on racing, training and career progression beyond the academy. Additional social media and media training will be available alongside a sport psychology programme developed exclusively for the academy.
The academy ride experiences will take place during ŠKODA sponsored events that include the Women’s Tour (June), Tour de France (July) and Tour of Britain (September). A further British Cycling experience day is scheduled for October.
The three new riders join three existing academy riders, Maddi Aldam-Gates, Gwyneth Parry and Olivia French, who were selected for the programme last year.
ŠKODA started life as a bicycle company in 1895 and the brand continues to focus on its two-wheeled heritage. In tandem with its headline sponsorship of key events in the cycling calendar, ŠKODA adds that it is championing gender equality in the professional tour series.
www.skoda.co.uk/discover/cycling-academy
