Information for Riders
How can I attend a Sprint School?
DHL Sprint School is open to male and female cyclists between 12 and 15 years old with track accreditation. In order to attend one of the sessions, you need to be nominated by one of Sprint School’s regional coach contacts. Each track league around the country has a designated coach who nominates four riders to attend each event. The coaches are asked to nominate different riders for each session (where possible) in order to keep Sprint School inclusive and to benefit as many young riders as possible.
Priority is given to riders who participate in the different nationwide track leagues, as Sprint School likes to encourage participation and competitive racing amongst this age group. However, we try not to leave anyone out at Sprint School and understand that not everyone is in a position to attend a track league regularly. Therefore we also encourage our coaches to communicate with other local club coaches in their area to make sure that any young riders showing great track potential are not overlooked for nomination and are given the opportunity to attend a Sprint School.
If you are a rider (or parent of a rider) interested in attending Sprint School and belong to a track league, you will need to speak to the designated coach at your track league who handles the nominations for Sprint School. If you don’t know which coach to speak to, or you don’t currently belong to a track league then drop us an email and we will let you know what to do next.
What can I expect from a day at Sprint School?
Below you can see an example of a typical day at Sprint School.
Morning
- Riders arrive at the Velodrome to sign in and get ready for a busy day of cycling
- A full briefing about the day is given by the coaches, and the star riders are introduced. Riders are put into their groups for the day
- Supervised warm up in groups on the track
Track session
The coaches will lead a comprehensive training session on the track, including a range of drills led by a star rider. Each Sprint School focuses on a different aspect of sprinting and this will be reflected in the coaching session – for example, riders may then move into groups to practise standing starts or team sprint drills, or work on the tactics required for a success in the keirin.
Lunch
Riders take a break in their groups to refuel after a busy morning, and to rest before the afternoon session begins
Afternoon
- The afternoon session consists of a mix of workshops and bike games. The workshops cover a variety of topics that are vital to becoming a good racing cyclist, such as the perfect warm up, nutrition, bike maintenance or how to plan your race diary.
- Games might include bike sumo, limbo or obstacle courses to improve bike handling skills
- Riders may take part in a twenty minute roller session led by coaches to improve core stability and fitness
What time do the Schools start and finish?
Newport events run from 8.30am to 4pm.
Manchester events run from 11am to 6pm.
What do I need to bring to Sprint School?
Spectators:
Family members and friends are welcome to watch the day’s activities from the Velodrome stands.
