Manchester Velodrome confirms track training course dates

Manchester Velodrome has confirmed dates for a series of track cycling courses this summer including Sprint and Endurance master classes and all day skills and induction sessions – places on some are limited so if you're interested you'd better get your name down fast.

Places on the Sprint master class are going fast, (naturally enough). There is a choice of dates either Saturday June 13 from 3:00pm to 10:00pm, or Sunday 14 June from 9:00am to 4:00pm and both are proving popular. The sessions will be coached by former Olympian and British Sprint Champion Mark Barry, 18-time World Masters Track Champion Geoff Cooke and sprinter Dave Readle, who will talk on psychological interventions. You'll need to be quick though as there are only a few spaces left on either day.

Manchester has also added a new track Master class for 2009 –- the Heiko Salzwedel Endurance Master class with a choice of dates either Saturday 22 or Sunday 23 August. Heiko is renowned as "Probably the best cycling coach in the world." He was instrumental in setting up the Australian Institute of Sport and joined British Cycling as national track manager in 2001.  He was then with the Danish Cycling Federation recently, and under his stewardship the Danes became a major force in team pursuiting, pushing Great Britain hard at the World Championships and Olympic Games. He has now returned to British Cycling as Track Performance Manager. Dave Readle will also talk to candidates on this course.

These Master classes are ideal for riders from aged 15 through to Masters. You do not need Velodrome accreditation to attend the course, but you must have ridden the Velodrome previously, and be a competent track rider and be able to ride behind a Derny pacer.

Due to the popularity of weekend track cycling skills and induction courses, two new dates have been added in August and September and limited spaces are still available on Sunday August 9 and Sunday 6 September, and are designed for riders who want to gain accreditation without spreading it out over consecutive weekends.

To get a place on the skills or induction courses you must be at least 15 years old, should already have some experience of riding Manchester Velodrome, and be fit enough to ride one 1 hour and two 2 hour sessions in a day. If bringing their own bike, candidates are advised to use a gear of 84" or 86".

More information on courses and application forms are available from
www.manchestervelodrome.com