The HUUB Ribble Performance Academy programme gives aspiring young cyclists the opportunity to develop their race craft and physical attributes while studying academic qualifications in Sport to enhance their career prospects.
The College’s partnership with the HUUB Ribble Cycling Team enables students to benefit from the expertise of highly qualified and respected coaches, which enhances the sport-focussed curriculum.
Training sessions and race schedules are carried out alongside your main programme of study, with a race calendar which is focussed on weekends. The academy race programme centres on road and track cycling but riders from cyclo-cross, bmx, mountain biking, cycle speedway etc are all welcome to enhance their performance in these disciplines.
Remote delivery of coaching and the academic course means that you can study from home and use your own training set-up to be part of the Academy.
Applications are welcomed from individuals who regularly participate in cycling and who show a desire and willingness to develop their sporting performance.
To qualify as part of the HUUB Ribble Performance Academy race team, you must meet the physical and endurance demands of elite level cycling. This performance testing will determine if you are part of the race team or development squad.
Academy cyclists will need to have their own British Cycling Race licence, or be prepared to obtain one in order to gain entry points for specific races.
Entry to the Level 3 Extended Certificate in Sports Coaching and Development or Sporting Excellence requires candidates to have a minimum of five GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A*- C) including English and Maths. This course has been designed specifically to allow for optimal access to your training programmes and can be delivered remotely for applicants who live further afield.
Riders can choose to study on-site and may also be able to access the Cycling Academy programme by studying a Level 2 course or A-levels, depending on if the timetable fits in with training sessions and performance tests. However, any GCSE resit requirements will take priority over your access to training.
In order to train and ride together, we strongly encourage riders to study the Level 3 Extended Certificate in Sports Coaching and Development or Sport and Exercise Science.
For academic course information, please see the Extended Certificate in Sports Coaching and Development or the Sport and Exercise Science web pages for further guidance.
*CV19 restrictions may apply
Physical assessments will be conducted to identify your biological passport and physiological markers. Your performance will be closely monitored through the completion of a tailored training protocol via Training Peaks.
Academic assessment on the study programme will be continuous over the year. Assessment methods will vary depending on the subjects delivered. See our Sports Coaching and Development or Sport and Exercise Science pages for further details.
School leavers are eligible for three years of funded education at DCG. Therefore students may wish to continue to the second and third years of the Sports Coaching and Development or Sport and Exercise Science courses or alternatively choose to study other related qualifications.
On successful completion of the course, students may wish to progress to the Foundation Degree in Sports Coaching at DCG or to seek employment within the sport and leisure sector.
Links with our local universities may see you selected for their cycling performance team alongside higher level study.
Derby College offer sport, health and leisure facilities for public use. This includes fitness centre, sports hall and outdoor pitch hire plus lots more. Located at Broomfield Hall, Johnson Building and Mackworth.
Training for a sport-related career was a natural step for DCG personal training student Christian Flanagan.
Christian, who is 19 and from Allestree, comes from a sports-loving family and has been actively involved in sport from a young age.
He is currently completing level 3 in sports massage at Broomfield Hall, having previously gained a level 2 certificate in gym instruction and level 3 diploma in personal training.
Christian has been going to the gym since he was 12, has played basketball for his county, and at 15 became the fastest 100m runner in his age group in Derbyshire, recording a time of just 10.9 seconds. Until he started college, he ran for Derby Athletic Club at Moorways.
Having a dad who used to play cricket semi-professionally has also been a big influence on his career choices.
Christian added: “I enjoy College. Our lecturers are good, I like the course content and the social side is great. I’d definitely recommend Broomfield Hall and the sports courses if you’re thinking of going into personal training.”
Christian had been working at a Derby gym for a year until the pandemic struck but hopes to get another job as a gym instructor when he leaves college next year.
Ultimately, he would like to work for himself as a personal trainer, with sports massage among the services he’ll be able to offer his own clients.
I enjoy College. Our lecturers are good, I like the course content and the social side is great. I’d definitely recommend Broomfield Hall and the sports courses if you’re thinking of going into personal training