Oaklands Wolves Cycling Academy - 2022/23 Guide

Oaklands Wolves Cycling Academy A guide for new applicants 2022-23

Endurance and Freeride in partnership with

@oaklandscycling

Our

MISSION To help each and every rider develop their physiological capacity and racing brain so as to become the best rider they can be without ever falling out of love with the sport.

about the

CYCLING ACADEMY The Oaklands Wolves Cycling Academy was the first of its kind when it was founded in 2016.

It sits alongside seven other academies at Oaklands College in Hertfordshire and it allows aspiring cyclists from all over the UK to train optimally every day whilst gaining their years 12 and 13 education.

jez.cox@oaklands.ac.uk

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Introduction from the

ACADEMY HEAD

As we enter our sixth year in existence our unique academy continues to inspire and embellish young riders on their journey to see how good they can become in that time.

The academy experience at Oaklands is very immersive and rewarding for the riders that really want it and want to ensure they are optimising their training time and opportunities. For those that commit to the process it has proven to be massively rewarding both athletically but also in terms of personal growth and education. That said, our experience has also shown us that our unique system is not always easy and also isn’t right for everyone.

If riders want or expect a completely individual plan with everything tailored to them then they will not get that in our academy and riders who expect to be able to dip into and out of the program would also not be right. Riders whose parents, carers or clubs/coaches are more ambitious than their son or daughter will also, in our experience, often not survive the process.

The riders that succeed are always those who really ‘want it’ themselves and those who are ready to become ‘box tickers’ ensuring all components of the successful athlete are maximised whilst also enjoying the sheer joy of riding their bike in a competitive and supportive environment.

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Our model has often been described as like being on a two year training camp with bespoke elements worked into it. It works through ensuring a high level of layered and optimised training alongside rest, rehab, physio, strength and conditioning. This is maintained throughout the process so that the volume and quality achieved is far greater than any other junior rider could possibly do whilst in full-time education.

- Jez Cox Head of Cycling

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ACADEMY Palmares In our five years of existence, these are the impressive stats racked up by our riders whilst in the academy.

139 wins, comprising: • 53 Cyclo-Cross wins • 12 MTB XC wins • 3 National Series MTB wins • 30 Junior road wins • 26 Track wins • 15 Senior wins Others: • 3 National Championships (2 Senior, 1 Junior) • 3 National Silver Medals (Junior) • 1 National Junior Road series win • 1 National series cyclecross win • 3 x 6-Day representation (London Six Day) • 28 National series/championship top tens • Riders racing in: Televised Tour Series, UCI Junior Tours, BC National Senior series and UCI Nations Cup at international level • Great Britain Cycling Team seelctions, World and European • Progression to Elite Enduro at national level • 33 National series/championship top-10s

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ENDURANCE Academy

ROAD • TRACK • MTB • CROSS Our academy pairs further education with full time elite cycling training in order to give riders the best of both worlds by providing every opportunity for riders to reach their cycle racing best, whilst gaining valuable qualifications and experience. In its simplest form, the riders train every morning of the week between 9am and 12:30pm and then study in the afternoon. Wednesday’s are entirely dedicated to the academy.

The academy provides the chance for talented and aspiring riders to progress from the youth ranks right the way through to being a competitive junior and into the senior ranks.

The aim is simple: to help each and every rider develop their physiological capacity and racing brain, to become the best rider they can be without ever falling out of love with the sport.

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This is done through a strong team ethic within the group, which trains together every day. Alongside this is a full Physiotherapy and Strength & Conditioning program run by our dedicated cycling-specific Physiotherapy and Strength & Conditioning Lead.

Our home is the lanes and trails of Hertfordshire, as they stretch out from our base in St Albans as well as Gosling Stadium Velodrome (which is booked each week) and Redbridge Cycling Centre which is a key partner of the academy. Riders will continue to race for their own club or team whilst training with the academy, even though the academy has its own kit, sponsors and team ethos. It has strong links with European and UK domestic teams and provides the perfect stepping stone for those good enough to turn pro.

FREERIDE

Academy DIRT JUMP • BMX • GRAVITY • STREET • SKILLS As the Cycling Academy enters its sixth year in existence we are innovating once again and creating the UK’s first dedicated Freeride Academy that provides riders with an opportunity to ride, design and dial in their skills alongside their education. Much of the details of how the academy works is the same as for our endurance academy, with half days spent with the academy and the other half spent on their education.

Wednesdays are still full academy days with greater opportunities to ride further afield and go on trips. There are lots of cross-overs between the endurance and freeride academies, with gym sessions being shared and our academy athlete education also being tailored for both sides. The riders from both halves will often ride together and learn from each other too. There will also be some riders who do a bit of both and, we anticipate, some riders who switch from one side to another as they develop. Of course, all our physio and strength and conditioning services are also provided to our freeriders in order to maximise the things that their fellow riders may well not be doing.

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STUDYING at Oaklands Students are expected to engage fully in their studies and there is regular communication with tutors to ensure our students are on track academically.

If falling short of expectations, students can bewithdrawn from training.

Should you have any questions about the courses available within the academy, a full list of courses can be found online at www.oaklands.ac.uk.

English & Maths It is an expectation that all students without GCSEs in English and Maths graded at 4 or above will retake English and/or Maths alongside their main programme, as either a GCSE or Functional Skills qualification. This may impact on some training involvement during the week.

Supporting Your Learning The college has an excellent student advice team who can support you with any pastoral needs. There are trained support tutors available in the Learning Resource Centre to support you with

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assignment work outside of lessons.

We are also able to provide additional learning support for students with particular learning needs, either on a one-to-one basis or through in-class support, as well as support with special exam arrangements and so forth.

Advice & Guidance We have dedicated student advice teams at both our Welwyn Garden City and St Albans Campuses. They are there to help you with anything at all, whether it relates to your time at college, such as course difficulties, travel issues, attendance right through to more personal issues such as relationships and health issues.

Our Student Advice team offer impartial information and advice by telephone, email or drop-in. This could include referring you for a guidance interview with our team of specialists. We can offer advice at a variety of venues in the local area as well as at our College campuses.

RESIDENTIAL Provision

Many of our riders are residential on site with us here and this is the only element of our provision for which there is a cost. As riders come to us from all over the UK this is a vital part of what we do although we are always keen to take in local riders who are able to make their own way to us.

Detailed residential application packs will then be distributed for completion and places will be allocated in June.

We now have an entirely new residential block on campus (above), which has a very modern and comfortable living design built into it.

This opened to students in 2020.

Should you wish to apply for residential accommodation at the college, this should be included in the online application when prompted.

Additionally for students from low income families, financial support may be available to support with these costs. For more information and details on costs, call us on 01727 737000.

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ACADEMY ALUMNI

What the riders say Joe Blackmore “Oaklands College was an incredible two years in the development of my riding, allowing me to progress onto the British Cycling MTB Programme.

Living at college set me up well for going away on race trips abroad, away from home, where organisation and discipline is really important. The structure of consistent and specific training alongside education cannot be beaten for a 16-18 year old who is looking to develop their riding, achieve racing goals and have great fun with mates.”

Jack Lear Jack came to us as a talented and accomplished cross rider with great potential on the road. During his time with us he transitioned to become one of the best U23/Elite Enduro riders in the country. Helping Jack find his niche and maximise his potential on the trails whilst building him into a more resilient athlete has been a nice stepping stone in the run up to launching our freeride academy.

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ACADEMY ALUMNI

What the riders say Polly Burge

“It was fun training and studying with likeminded athletes in an environment that really challenged me. The one to one support given by the coaches helped me develop mentally and physically as a rider, helping the transition into junior racing as well as setting me up for U23s. This has allowed me to make the step up to national womens’s races alongside continuing my studies in Sport Science at university.”

Jack Parrish “The time I spent at Oaklands was great and the progression I made and things I learnt have really helped me progress to the level I am at now. The structure and consistency really developed me as a rider, achieving my goals of racing on the continent. Jez and Leda really pushed me in the right direction if that was time on the bike or off the bike. Since leaving I’ve been living and racing in France on the road and cyclocross scene.”

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Meet the

STAFF

Jez Cox

Head of Cycling and Head Coach

@jezcox

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The academy was formed and is headed by Jez Cox who is himself a former professional rider and UCI (Cycling) team manager at world cup level. In his racing career jez won over 80 races as well as becoming British number one in Duathlon.

Having retired from racing he was chosen to design and implement the cycling legacy plan for the London 2012 games and having done so went on to design and manage all of the cycling programs at Lee Valley VeloPark that are still in place today. Jez is also a Level 3 coach and current Great Britain (Triathlon) Team Manager.

Jez is now probably best known for his race commentary as the voice of the Tour Series, Women’s Tour and Tour of Britain bike races in the UK. He is also a regular on Eurosport/GCN’s coverage of the world’s biggest races.

Will Raymond

Meet the STAFF

Cycling Academy Performance Coach

William Raymond was born a two-minute bike ride from the St Albans Campus. He started riding at Welwyn track and had a very successful age group palmares in competition across track racing, road, time-trial and cyclocross. He was a serial regional champion in all these disciplines from the under-12 age group onwards, leading to a call up for the team GB Olympic Development Apprentice squad as an under 16. As a junior he competed extensively on track and road in Belgium and at National level in the UK for the VCL. He came fifth in the London 6 Day under-23 race at 17 years of age. After completing his GCSEs, Will attended Oaklands College for a two-year course in Sports science. In more recent times Will has been developing his off-road riding and competed in his first few downhill races in 2019. He is also furthering his dirt jump riding with the aim to be competitive in both disciplines in 2021 and beyond. He remains a passionate bike rider and is thoroughly enjoying sharing his experience and enthusiasm as the academy’s performance coach.

Joe Ellis

Strength and Conditioning Lead Originating from North West England, Joe Ellis completed a BSc in Sport & Exercise Science and an MSc in Strength & Conditioning, both at the University of Chester. A coach with the philosophy of ‘do what works’ delivering support across Athletics, Cycling and Ruby Union at Oaklands College.

Leda Cox

@ledacox

Lead Physiotherapist and Performance Mentor

Leda was a professional road rider for 10 years through the 2000s and represented Great Britain throughout her career.

She raced for pro teams in the US, Italy, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. She won over 30 races including the Coupe De France and the Tour of Tucson and multiple national medals as well as becoming British number one.

As the head of physiotherapy and medical provision for all Oaklands Wolves academies, Leda’s experience at the top of the sport provides a massive advantage for our riders.

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TRAINING The endurance academy is best thought of as a year long training camp. The riders meet at the same times each morning but throughout the year the sessions are tweaked and groups split according to which goals and phases of the year are coming up. It is not unusual to have three different groups on one day, one doing a cyclo-cross session, one road and one in the gym doing strength work for instance.

Training is in the morning between 9am and 12:30pm during the week and has afternoons set aside for lessons and tutorials. Wednesday however is a day solely for academy training, physio and cycling enrichment (lessons).

Freeride Academy The dedicated training and ride time for the Freeride Academy is very similar to our endurance academy but of course, locations will be different and so will the coaching. We are working on close links with local ride hot spots, trail partners and local councils in order to provide even greater opportunities for our freeriders to experience the best blend of riding and skills progression.

The academy has Gosling Stadium Velodrome in Welwyn Garden City as a weekly training base where the academy has the track entirely to itself.

The bulk of academy training takes place from our St Albans Campus, making the most of the quiet lanes, trails and fields surrounding the campus on the outskirts of St Albans. Rides take the academy into Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Greater London and Essex with regular haunts being ‘Little Flanders’ and the hills between Hertford and Essendon as well as the North Herts lanes stretching out from Whitwell and Codicote. Another regular target on longer rides is the Eastern end of the Chilterns, taking in classic climbs such as Ivinghoe Beacon and Bison Hill fairly regularly. Trail riding is also excellent straight from the off as our campus is almost entirely surrounded by farmland and countryside.

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DESTINATIONS

of recent graduates

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France - Elite 2/U23

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Belgium - Elite 2/U23

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Spain - Elite 2/U23

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Great Britain Cycling Team

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UCI Women’s Team

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Loughborough University

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University of Derby

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University of Birmingham

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Writtle University College

PARTNERSHIPS Loughborough University Cycling

Sport Beans

Our nutrition sponsor Sports Beans provide each of the riders with a supply of their products.

www.sportbeans.com St Albans Cycles

Provide servicing as well as all products and purchases at a heavy discount.

www.st-albanscycles.co.uk Redbridge Cycling Centre

Provide us with free facility use during the week.

www.redbridgecyclingcentre.co.uk Wattbike

Provide our academy testing Wattbikes and regular assistance with our testing protocol and benchmarking.

Salice

Our academy sunglasses and helmet sponsor.

Riders get products at less than trade price.

Rewire Fitness

Rewire Fitness Program with free access to its brain training app.

Kapz

Custom Wolves headset Kapz for all academy riders.

Burton’s Biscuits

Partnering through their ‘Minis Get Moving’ initiative, Burtons kindly pay for all our velodrome bookings

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HOW TO JOIN US 1

Deciding if it is right for you. It would be a good idea for us to have a chat on the phone if we haven’t already. Academy Director Jez Cox can call you at a time convenient to you. We want to ensure that the rider and our academy are the right fit for each other.

Contact Jez to arrange a conversation: jez.cox@oaklands.ac.uk.

Coming to our Trial day. Jez will give you more details about this and the exact date once you have done the above. The main academy trial is in mid-January but applicants can apply right up to the end of July and individual trials and interviews will be arranged. We do however strongly encourage coming to the January trial (for current year 11s looking at September’s intake) if at all possible. You would then be told if the rider is considered to be suitable for the academy/if the academy is suitable for them.

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We are looking for riders who: • Endurance: Are already racing at least regionally (local races) and even better nationally or internationally. We currently have all these levels in our academy • Endurance: Are strong and competent enough already to ride in a group of other junior riders for in excess of two hours at a steady pace taking in some reasonable hills • Freeride: Can demonstrate good core control of the bike and an ability to take on and apply technical skills coaching quickly • Listen and try to apply what they learn to their riding • Are able to be team players when necessary but who are also selfmotivated enough to really want to see how good they can be

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Applying for the course of your choice and including in the application notes that you are also applying for the Cycling Academy.

All of our courses, across both the St Albans and Welwyn Garden City Campuses can be found on the Oaklands College website.

The following courses fit the academy training model, meaning that you won’t miss a day’s training and your education will dovetail perfectly.

Sport: • BTEC Level 3 90 Credit/Extended Diploma in Sport • BTEC Level 3 90 Credit/Extended Diploma in Sport & Exercise Science • BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Sport • BTEC Level 1 Introductory Diploma in Sport • Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training & Instruction • Level 2 Diploma in Health, Fitness & Exercise Instruction Business: • BTEC Level 3 90 Credit Diploma in Business • BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Business • BTEC Level 1 Introductory Diploma in Business •

BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Sport and Business

It is possible to study other subjects while in the academy but there is no guarantee of how well they will fit with our training despite our commitment to try to make things work as a best fit.

These include: A Levels, Combined BTEC and A Levels, Trades (Motor Vehicle, Electrical, Brickwork, Carpentry, etc.) as well as our creative subjects.

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After applying online, you will be invited in for a course experience evening. Please email jez.cox@oaklands. ac.uk to let him know when it is so that he can try to be there to meet with you at that time as well.

Not sure about joining our Academy?

Please get in touch with Jez to discuss and do not be put off until we have at least discussed it. We are not looking for the finished article. There’s no such thing. We are looking for potential and a desire to improve and test their limits.

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THINGS YOU NEED BEFORE YOU JOIN Endurance Academy • A road bike with clipless pedals • An off road bike with clipless pedals (Cross or MTB) • A well-fitting helmet that has never been involved in a direct impact.

• Road bike mud guards on between October and April which must reach within 20 centimetres of the ground • Suitable winter clothing. No legs are to be uncovered outdoor between October and April • Two bottle cages on road bike and plenty of bottles • A heart rate monitor

• A GPS bike computer such as a Garmin which can be transferred from one bike to another • At least one rainproof long sleeve outer shell layer • Plenty of spare inner tubes, a mini pump and the ability to carry them (saddle bags are the best way..)

• Between October and April, puncture resistant winter road tyres.

Our academy recommendation is Schwalbe Durano Plus in 25 millimetres

All of the above can be bought at trade price at St Albans Cycles once you have accepted a place we have offered you.

Freeride Academy • Minimum of one Mountain Bike which can be ridden greater distances • (Optional) One or more specialist bikes such as a DJ bike or BMX • Suitable clothing for all weathers as for the endurance academy above

• An approved helmet which will be inspected regularly for crash damage • Pads and protective wear which meets the level you are already riding at (we can advise more on this) • A riding backpack (with hydration bladder if no bottle cages)

What does it cost?

Nothing. The academy with all its coaching, gym work, physio and enrichment is free to our riders. College students between the ages of 16-18 at Oaklands generally have their college fees paid by their Local Education Authority just as they would if they stayed on for sixth form in their secondary school. Those fees pay for their course and the academy provision.

Riders in the academy whose journey to get to Oaklands would take over 90 minutes will stay in our on-site Residential accommodation and this does incur extra costs to cover accommodation, food, enrichment activities and trips. Please see page 9 for more ifnormation on our Residential provision.

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Academy

KIT

Our academy kit is designed and made

by St Albans Firm TMG Pro.

The Freeride Academy will have its own kit designs which follow our normal colour scheme. Watch @ oaklandscycling to see when the new designs are released’

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St Albans Campus

REDEVELOPMENT

Our £62 million St Albans Campus redevelopment was given the green light back in 2017, enabling us to transform our site with modern state-of-the-art facilities.

The look and feel of the campus is being entirely transformed with brand-new administration areas, teaching centres, workshops and a sports pavilion.

The first phase of development is our Residential Homestead, which was completed in 2020. It houses up to 80 students who are living on-campus. To find out more about our Residential provision, please see page 9 of this booklet. The second phase, the Evolution Centre, was completed in 2021 and provides 49 new classrooms alongside new offices for curriculum staff.

Construction of phase three is due to commence in 2022 on two new buildings - a large new construction centre and a sports pavilion. The sports pavilion will provide lockers, changing rooms, and a viewing platform for spectators as well as classrooms for theoretical lessons. The focal point of the new development will be the fourth and final phase, the Gateway Building, which will house a new student centre, support services and campus café.

The overall development currently on schedule to be completed in 2023 or 2024.

Above: Residential Homestead (2020) Below: Evolution Centre (2021)

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Top to bottom: Construction Centre, Sports Pavilion and The Gateway. Coming in 2023/24.

#alwaysmore Explained: There is #alwaysmore you can do to be better than your competition.

When you think it’s hard, you are always capable of far more than you imagine. #alwaysmore Oaklands Wolves Cycling Academy Oaklands College St Albans Campus cycling@oaklands.ac.uk Hatfield Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL4 0JA

@oaklandscycling #AlwaysMore with in partnership