British Cycling to help UCI boost standards of cycle coaching worldwide

The coaching set up that helped British track cyclists become such a dominant force in Olympic and world championship events has bagged another victory with the announcement that British Cycling will be developing a coaching programme to raise the standards of international cycle coaching across the world.

A ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ between the two bodies was signed at the recent UCI Congress in Switzerland in which they pledged to create a worldwide Coach Education Programme designed to standardise and improve coach education in cycling.

As part of the partnership, British Cycling will help the UCI develop resources for the new programme based on its current coach education materials. British Cycling will also recommend its delivery mechanisms to the UCI, share best practice and deliver a number of coach education courses, including the UCI diploma, at the World Cycling Centre in Aigle.

John Mills, Coaching, Education and Development Director at British Cycling, has been appointed Project Director and will spend 40 days a year at the UCI directing the development of the new coach education programme.

He said: “Our involvement in this project provides a great opportunity to work in partnership with the UCI and to support the development of coach education and coaching around the world.

“This development, combined with the recent appointment of our President, Brian Cookson to the UCI Management Committee puts us in a great position to build on our existing relationship with the UCI.”

“The invitation to join forces with the UCI is further recognition that Britain is not only a leading cycling nation but is also able to make a significant contribution to the development and globalisation of cycle sport.”

The project will be overseen by Frederic Magne, UCI Director of Development and Director of the World Cycling Centre. Keith Flory, British Cycling’s Coaching and Education Manager, will also be part of the new team having been seconded to the UCI for 17 months to manage the development and implementation of the project.