October 16, 2012 (Victoria, BC) – Pacific Cycling Centre (PCC) and Russ Hay’s Bikes have extended the deadline for applying for their talent development program to October 20. The program will identify a group of athletes who have the potential to progress to elite status, and compete in World Cups, World Championships and Olympic Games in the next two quadrennials. Athletes in U17 and U19 categories will be identified and those in the first year of U23.

“We have had a lot of enquiries about the program,” says PCC Head Coach Houshang Amiri. “Extending the deadline gives us the opportunity to thoroughly review applications, and gives athletes more time to apply.”

The first phase of the program will run from November 30, 2012 until October 30, 2013 with the objective to channel athletes into national team programs and to maintain a permanent, high-performance training group of national team and pre-national team athletes at the Pacific Cycling Centre, with the appropriate coaching and support system.

The athletes training will be based on the Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) model at the Learn-to-Train, Train-to-Train and Train-to-Compete levels.  Athletes from road, track and mountain bike will be accepted into the program, and will have access to the highest quality professional coaching and training in a peer group setting, training camps, regular physiological testing, mentorship opportunities with Olympians such as Erinne Willock and Svein Tuft, and for those showing particular talent, support at race competitions.

Athletes in this program will be part of Russ Hay’s/Accent Inns Elite Racing Team with all team members receiving race and training clothing. Specialized bikes are the team’s official bikes and they will be offered, as well as equipment, at a special prorated price.

Interested athletes can send a race CV and cover letter to info@pacificcyclingcentre.ca .

For more information go here.