Sprint School is finding track stars of the future

The most recent DHL Sprint School was held on 5th September at the Newport velodrome. It included contributions from gold medallist Jamie Staff, seen pictured here.

The Sprint School is not a British Cycling project but British Cycling believes it fills a gap in the organsation’s performance strategy.

British Cycling’ Performance Manager Shane Sutton was at this past weekend’s school to provide expert coaching to the scheme’ 12-15 year olds, with many of his tips coming straight from training guides for Team GB’s Olympic riders.
At each school, approximately 70 riders come down to the Newport Velodrome from all over the UK. With 21 track leagues nominating two girls and two boys to each school, they receive a cross section of riders and this year over 130 different kids have attended with most coming to two or three of the schools.
The DHL Sprint School has been running since February 2007, with different star riders at each school providing tips, advice and answering any individual questions the riders may have.

Each school has had a different objective, which focuses on the important aspects of match sprinting and Keirin racing; riders have been taught a whole host of skills, from learning how to rush the gap to keeping an eye on their opponents. Each event also has a practical side, riders are taught the basics in a classroom environment as well as being able to take part in slow-paced skill games.
British Cycling’ youth coaches, Tim Buckle and Matt Winston used video equipment so that riders could see and learn from their mistakes after the practical sessions. This technique quickly solved any problems riders had with their tactics and easily allowed them to see the error of their ways. The British Cycling team video almost all of Team GB’s races and even collect footage from training sessions. This proven technique is now being moved to different aspects of the performance scale.
Jamie Staff said: “I’ve done a few sprint schools now, and I’ve been really impressed with the quality riders and volume of riders. There are so many girls here today and that’ fantastic, I’m sure that’ down to Vicky [Pendleton].

“The riders are getting the idea now and they’re not making the really big mistakes they might have done in the first couple of sprint schools. Obviously, the coaching is getting better and they’re obviously feeling a bit more comfortable on the track, it’ just really exciting. It’ making everyone’ job easier further down the road.”
Shane Sutton said: “To think how far forward the kids have progressed in 6 hours, imagine what you could do with these athletes on a 24/7 basis, it’ phenomenal. A lot of these kids haven’t even done much track before, there was one kid who turned up to the track today, and had never been on the track until last night, it’ incredible to see what Guy [Elliott] at DHL has put into the sport. I think the legacy of DHL Sprint School will just go on and on.”
The DHL Sprint School’ will culminate in a racing day on 6th December.