Giant-Shimano exploring new methods of scouting future talent
Team Giant-Shimano is to put more emphasis on the global talent pool, with a focus on German talent, as it moves away from having a Development Team to bring on young riders.
“We have explored the capacities of having a development team connected to our structure this past season, but found it not effective enough in developing our team structure as a whole to continue it for another season,” explained Team Giant-Shimano general manager, Iwan Spekenbrink. “There are many talents out there, and many riders slip through without being given a real chance to show their true capabilities. This is why we have developed a new concept, aimed at giving more young riders the opportunity to use our facilities and to get their chance.”
As of 2015, Team Giant-Shimano, to be Team Giant-Alpecin, will be employing a different way of finding new, young talented riders – tomorrow’s champions. The first method of scouting riders will be through hosting talent days at which talented young riders looking to break-through at WorldTour level will be given the chance to prove themselves to the team’s experts across a number of fields.
Riders will be tested both physically and mentally on such days, spread over the course of the year, to decipher whether they are, firstly, a good fit for the team, and secondly, in possession of the talents and mental strength to develop with the team.
A multitude of staff, including coaches, trainers, embedded scientists and others will be involved in the process, adding the knowhow from the WorldTour team to help those who are pin-pointed as possessing the key qualities that the team is looking for.
The team has an international orientation, and has shown this over the years with riders from all over the world. From 2015 the team is to pay special attention to up and coming German riders as it takes the responsibility in being the precursor for the development of German cycling.
Team Giant-Shimano continues its commitment to the riders currently under contract in the Development Team. The team will take care so they can continue their cycling career and help them take the next step in their development. Lars van der Haar will progress to the WorldTour team as of the end of his cyclo-cross season.
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