Team Giant-Alpecin has to announced the introduction of a pioneering development program, which will start in the 2017 season. This program will complement the existing Team Liv-Plantur women’s and Team Giant-Alpecin men’s elite WorldTour programs.
 
The focus of the German-based and internationally oriented development program will be to identify, target and develop riders. Led by the same team of coaches and experts as the elite program, it will provide a new generation of young and talented riders the guidance, coaching and sports science they need to advance their careers while offering them the chance to fulfill their dream of becoming a professional athlete. The team has a proven track record and experience in helping young talents develop into world-class riders.
 
Team Giant-Alpecin aims to provide the top talent development program in the sport. While maintaining its international orientation, this program will specifically encourage and work with a core of talented German riders and staff, in accordance with the team’s goal of advancing German cycling.
 
Team Giant-Alpecin will offer Germany’s sole complete development pyramid, featuring the German Talent Days in cooperation with the German Cycling Federation (BDR), the new German development program as the next step to that, and, at the very top of that pyramid, the German-licensed WorldTour team. The main objective is to develop WorldTour riders through Team Giant-Alpecin’s philosophy. With the “Keep Challenging” elite sports approach, the team specifically focuses on optimizing cooperation and innovation, within the framework of a non-negotiable set of core principles, as the key driver for long-term future growth. This program constitutes the next phase in the creation of a significant and enduring elite sports institute.
 
Team Giant-Alpecin CEO Iwan Spekenbrink (NED) explained: “We want to be an advanced development program where German and international riders will be supported by the latest technologies, expertise, coaching and knowledge. We will adopt a broad approach and focus equally on the riders’ education, since not every talent will ultimately make it into the WorldTour. It all centers around the objective of development, first as a person and ultimately as a professional athlete. But at the very minimum we want to offer something relevant to those young men and prepare them for the next chapter in their life, whether it’s on or off the bike. We will aim to be the world’s ideal gateway to a successful career in the UCI WorldTour. 
 
“Germany is a country with huge potential for cycling. A lot of people ride their bikes, and we want to recruit the best talents from those youngsters wishing to pursue a career in professional cycling. With the German Talent Days together with BDR, this new development program, plus the men’s and women’s elite programs, we believe we will have the perfect pyramid in place.”