Le Col & Velusso Launch Cycling Academy
Le Col and Velusso have partnered to form a new cycling concept for junior riders and their parents, titled The Le Col Velusso Cycling Academy.
The trips will give young riders under the age of 16 a chance to gain insight into the life of a professional rider, and to teach them the skills needed to progress their cycling talents, both on and off the bike.
Aimed at being a trip for the family to enjoy, the Cycling Academy offers activities for both parents and children, on a three to five-day experience that includes guided training rides by current and ex-professional riders, as well as a range of informal afternoon lectures on various aspects of the sport, including training, nutrition, tactics, fitness and more.
The brainchild of former GB-cyclist and founder of Le Col, Yanto Barker, the Academy is set to launch in the spring of 2018, with the first five-day trip taking place in Mallorca, an island frequented by amateurs and professionals for its ideal training conditions year-round and accessibility.
Young riders of any ability are welcome on the Cycling Academy, with a mixture of closed and quiet roads used throughout the programme.
As part of the agreement, travel operator Velusso will use its experience of organising and hosting groups of riders in cycling hotspots such as Mallorca, to deliver a comprehensive experience where every element of the trip is covered.
“The Cycling Academy was born from a passion to give young riders the tools they need to make the most out of their time on a bike and to help them progress and get a taste for training and racing, that they may not have already experienced,” Yanto said. “At the same time, we saw that there wasn’t a cycling experience out there that fully encompassed the family. As a new father myself, I see the attraction of being able to combine your hobby with your family, as well as getting away at the same time.
“I have worked hard to distil down some of my 20 years and 25,000+ hours of riding and/or racing, as well as analysing data in professional cycling, to be able to share the most relevant information to young riders early in their cycling careers. There will also be plenty of interesting information for any cycling parent, as well as pointers on how to support a keen young cyclist.”
The Cycling Academy will officially launch in Europe in 2018, however guests are invited to join a three-day Academy experience in Cheltenham, UK, between the 23rd to 25th October.
