UAE Team Emirates Launches Youth Academy

As part of its ongoing commitment to inspire the next generation of cyclists, UAE Team Emirates has partnered with Dubai-based sports activity provider Just Play, to launch the UAE Team Emirates Youth Academy – a summer cycling programme, hosted at this year’s Dubai Sports World.

The three-week initiative – which targets boys and girls from 11-16 years-old and starts on Sunday 8th July – coincides with the world’s most prestigious cycling race, the Tour de France. The coaching clinics will teach youngsters the basics of indoor cycling, using professional training bikes in a purpose built, air-conditioned studio. Each session has been designed in collaboration with UAE Team Emirates’ staff and the team’s top riders – two of whom were present at today’s launch.

UAE and Asian Road Cycling Champion Yousif Mirza was joined by UAE Team Emirates teammate Vegard Stake Laengen at Dubai Sports World as the pair met the first batch of UAE Team Emirates Youth Academy participants from Sunmarke International School. The duo gave the enthusiastic youngsters some eye-opening insight into the world of professional cycling and a taste of what their teammates will be going up against in the coming weeks as they battle the toughest race on the tour. The pair also provided useful tips on technique, shared memories of cycling as youngsters, and what it takes to make it to the top, before hopping on their Colnago bikes and Elite Turbo Trainers to demonstrate just how much power is in the legs of the elite rider.

Speaking at the launch, UAE Team Emirates’ Yousif Mirza said: “It gives me so much pride to ride for UAE Team Emirates and fly the flag for my own country, because I know that our successes on the UCI World Tour will encourage more young people in the UAE to take up the sport. Launching a Youth Academy program is a great way to help youngsters get into cycling and doing it indoors at Dubai Sports World means they can get fit and stay healthy even during our hot summer months.”

Vegard Stake Laengen, who competed in last year’s Tour de France and was recently crowned the Norwegian National Road Race champion continued: “The Tour de France is one of the biggest sporting spectacles on the planet and the most demanding race for a pro cyclist to compete in. We wanted to use the excitement around this year’s event to inspire young people from across the UAE to join our Youth Academy and try out indoor cycling. Who knows – maybe this is where we find the next Yousif Mirza!”

The daily coaching clinics – running Sunday to Thursday – are themed around the 21 stages of the Tour de France and give youngsters the chance to experience some of the same conditions faced by UAE Team Emirates’ riders competing on this year’s tour. The youngsters will learn how to perfect their climbing, sprinting and endurance skills, whilst building their overall fitness in a fun and safe environment as part of Just Play’s well-established summer camps.

Anouar Idrissi, CEO of Just Play said: “Our goal is to help develop every child’s physical ability through sport, so partnering with UAE Team Emirates on their Youth Academy is an exciting opportunity – not only for us but for the thousands of young people who come to our summer camps to make new friends, have new experiences and learn new skills.”

The UAE Team Emirates Youth Academy will run as part of the official Dubai Sports World Summer Camp programme from 8th – 29th July 2018, delivered by Just Play. For more information on how to book a place on the Youth Academy visit http://justplay.ae/summercamp/