One of the key reasons for the development of The Revolution Series, which concludes for this season on Saturday night at Manchester Velodrome, was the Future Stars competition, which features young riders from around the UK competing in events which match those of the elite riders on the night.
With a £1000+ Decathlon road bike to be won, the racing has been fierce and spectacular as the confidence and experience of the young cyclists has grown. Many of the riders featuring in the competition were selected to take part in the inaugural "Olympic Development Programme" training week started by British Cycling and run by the newly appointed, and provisionally titled, Olympic Development Coach Darren Tudor.
"Up until October, this is a pilot program and after we'll be selecting the riders," said Tudor. "This is a whole new program for the riders, British Cycling and for me. It's about bringing all the coaches and managers together so we're all singing from the same hymn sheet and there is a smooth pathway from the talent team to the juniors, the under 23s and then the senior squad."
Revolution Future Stars series leaders Steven Burke, Andy Tennant and Adam Blythe all took part in the training week. "I would love to ride the World Junior Track Championships this year and race on the road abroad," said Andy Tennant. "It would be great if I got to ride the elite race at Revolution next year. The crowd atmosphere at Revolution is brilliant it is what makes the series special."
The three leading "Future Stars" will get a taste of what it's like to ride in the elite field as they have been selected to take part in the all star Madison event at the end of the night, meaning that for the first time they will be riding with the likes of double Olympic medallist Rob Hayles, Olympic Silver Medallists Bruno Risi and Franco Marvulli and other stars.
More information about the Olympic Development Program: www.britishcycling.org.uk/news/2005/02_February/15_ODP.shtml
