The Pedal Power Association is excited to launch the PPA Academy, an opportunity for promising young riders to gain international racing experience.
Photo credit: Gerda Benson.
Our local PPA 2016-2017 League will serve as the platform for riders to achieve results and become eligible for the PPA Academy.
Six young riders will be offered limited financial assistance (see below) towards international participation. The selection of riders will be based on their participation in the 2016-2017 PPA league series and points scored in this league, and as detailed below.
Terms and conditions for overseas assistance offered will be outlined upon selection, and will be limited to the selected riders in the PPA Academy participating for a minimum of 6 weeks in races on the racing calendars of cycling nations ranked in the top 10 in the world, for the dates as listed below. Cyclists will be free to choose their path within these guidelines. If they, however, do not have their own solution as to how to best utilize this offer, PPA will assist in finding a suitable option for international exposure.
What to do?
The six PPA Academy riders will be drawn from the u/23 (male and female) and junior (male and female) categories only. These riders must fall within the Junior and u/23 categories for 2017. (More information to follow in this regard.)
Riders must be PPA members. Refer to the PPA league rules for additional league requirements.
Events
The 2016-2017 League will run over these events:
- Enjoy One Tonner 2016
- CWC Durbie Dash 2016
- Bouckaert-Soenen 2017
- Journey for Sight 2017
- Tour de PPA 2017
- After the cancellation of the West Coast Express when traffic permissions were withdrawn at the last moment, an alternative event is being looked at in January 2017. Results of the 2017 Cape Town Cycle Tour may be taken into consideration, if required. For more information, please email leagues@pedalpower.org.za.
PPA Academy Bursary Winners:
The top rider on points at the end of the 2016-2017 PPA League in each of the Junior Men, Junior Women, u/23 Men and u/23 Women’s categories will be selected for the PPA Academy. PPA will select an additional two league participants from these age categories to be included in the PPA Academy.
The six PPA Academy participants will each receive R25 000 (twenty five thousand rand) towards travel and racing expenses, within the guidelines set out by PPA. Age categories applicable will be determined by the UCI age categories for 2017.
If there are no participants in a particular category, PPA will determine which of the other categories will be eligible for more than one bursary winner.
Awesome