Fifty of the UK’s best under 16 riders will be battling for the esteemed title of DHL Future Stars Champion at the upcoming Revolution Series. Competing on home soil in front of an audience of thousands at the Manchester Velodrome, this is the one they all want to win.
The DHL Future Stars series showcases the best of up and coming talent; Steven Burke, winner in 2005 is now an Olympic medallist at just 20 years old.
Olympic Talent Coach Phil West manages the Future Stars Series and acknowledges the success of the competition, "It’s amazing to think Steven won the Future Stars just three years ago and now he's up there with the best in the world and bringing home Olympic medals!”
Winners of last season, Dan McLay and Corrine Hall are already members of the prestigious Olympic Development Squad. Dan and second placed Chris Whorral (also a member of the ODP) will be back at Revolution but will this time be competing in the elite events lining up against stars such as Stuart O’Grady, Bradley McGee and David Millar.
With the Team GB cyclists enjoying unprecedented success the ambition and talent is certainly filtering down to the youth programmes.
More importantly, our young riders are given access to some of the best coaching available through the successful Talent Teams and for younger riders, the DHL Sprint School.
Of the fifty competitors in the upcoming Future Stars, over twenty have taken part in one or more of the schools over the last two seasons. Indeed, some of this season’s hottest prospects, including Felix English, Laura Trott and Lucy Garner have honed their skills with star riders including Victoria Pendleton, Jamie Staff and Craig MacLean at the DHL supported schools.
“We are seeing more and more talented riders each year and initiatives like the DHL Sprint School are helping to identify even more promising young riders” acknowledged West. “This year's Future Stars are an incredibly talented bunch so I would expect the racing to be better than ever and I'm sure we'll see many of the riders go on to great things in years to come."