Manchester International Cycling Academy
The Manchester International Cycling Academy offers a unique opportunity for young riders from around the world to live the British cycling experience without sacrificing academic progress. You’ll study English and/or British qualifications while training in one of the UK’s leading cycling environments.
From our base at the world class National Cycling Centre, Manchester Cycling Academy’s international programme hosts young people from across the globe, honing their academic, riding and racing skills.
The international cycling academy is a collaboration between leading Manchester Cycling Academy and Abbey College, Manchester and in what is the first partnership of its kind in the UK and believed to be the first in Europe.
Course Overview
The International Cycling Programme supports young riders and developing adults who want to combine education, structured coaching, and long-term athletic development within a balanced and supportive framework.
The programme is designed for international riders who value academic progression alongside cycling development, whether based in Manchester or accessing support remotely from elsewhere in the world.
Our approach is education-first, athlete-centred, and focused on sustainable progression rather than short-term outcomes.
Coaching Philosophy
Our coaching philosophy is rooted in long-term athlete development. We recognise that meaningful performance gains are achieved over months and years and that education, wellbeing and performance must be aligned rather than competing for time or attention.
Academic commitments always take priority. Training is structured to fit around studies, coursework, and exam periods, ensuring riders can pursue sporting ambition without compromising education or placing unsustainable pressure on themselves.
From a performance perspective, coaching focuses on developing the complete athlete, rather than early specialisation. Programmes are individually designed and periodised, addressing technical, physical, psychological, and lifestyle factors in parallel.
Performance outcomes are viewed as a by-product of consistent, high-quality work, not the sole measure of success.
Supported Cycling Disciplines & Specialisms
The International Programme supports riders across a range of cycling disciplines, with development structured around transferable skills and discipline-specific needs.
Supported areas include:
- Road cycling – endurance development, bunch skills, race craft, and structured competition progression
- Downhill & gravity mountain biking – technical skill acquisition, physical robustness, movement quality, and injury prevention
- Track cycling – sprint and endurance pathways, technical skill development, pacing, and structured training
- Cyclocross – technical handling, repeatability, and race-specific skills
Where disciplines require specialist technical input, this is delivered through appropriate environments and trusted external partners. The programme provides overall structure, oversight, and integration to ensure all elements of development work together coherently.
Age Ranges & Education Pathways
The programme supports riders across different age groups, with education and coaching structured to reflect both developmental stage and academic requirements. Coaching can be delivered on-site in Manchester or remotely, allowing riders to access the programme from anywhere in the world.
Ages 14–18: School & College Pathway
Riders aged 14 to 18 years old are supported through an education-led development pathway that prioritises academic progress, wellbeing and long-term athlete development.
For riders based in the UK, this typically involves enrolment in full-time education through Abbey College Manchester, alongside a structured and age-appropriate programme.
For riders based internationally, the same coaching framework can be delivered remotely, allowing athletes to remain within their home education system while benefiting from structured planning, monitoring, and review.
For this age group:
- Education is the primary commitment
- Training is carefully integrated around academic timetables
- Coaching focuses on physical literacy, skill development, and wellbeing
- Load management, recovery, and appropriate supervision are prioritised
Whether delivered on-site or virtually, this pathway supports young athletes through key academic years in a safe, structured, and balanced environment.
The International Programme at Manchester Cycling Academy has two routes:
Development
This programme is aimed at the student who has a love for cycling and who wants to improve but who also wants to concentrate on their academic studies.
You will take part in up to three group sessions per week and two extra training rides or sessions that can be done at a time that suits you. These will be delivered to you via the online training platform, Training Peaks.
You will receive a kit bundle including off and on the bike clothing, gym membership and access to the coaching team for feedback sessions.
Elite
This programme is suited for a student who is able to train for around fifteen hours per week and who wishes to progress onto a cycling related career.
The elite programme will see you take part in five group training or race sessions per week and two extra training rides or sessions which can be done at a time to suit you. These will be tailored to your needs and will be delivered to you via the online training platform, Training Peaks.
You will receive a full kit bundle including off and on the bike clothing, gym membership, a strength and conditioning assessment, diet and nutritional plans and one to one feedback sessions with your coach.
Course Content
Depending on the length of your course, riders can expect to cover most riding disciplines including track and road, Cyclocross, MTB and BMX and the lesser known discipline of Cycle Speedway.
There are up to 3 Hours per day dedicated to practical riding sessions at Manchester International Cycling Academy. At the beginning of each course, riders will plan their sessions with their coach and tailor their training accordingly.
When at Manchester International Cycling Academy will attend your academic classes each weekday morning and then travel to the National Cycling Centre for your cycling specific training sessions. There will be a variety of different sessions each week depending on your level of performance.
In most sessions you will train with other riders from the international and domestic programme. A typical velodrome training session could be:
Through and Off: Riding in groups, you will ride on the red line around the velodrome and in turns, peel away up the boards, allow the group to pass below you and then drop onto the back of the line.
MTB Skills & Technical Development Sessions
Mountain bike–focused sessions emphasise core technical skills including bike control, line choice, and terrain adaptation. Environments are selected to allow repeatable practice and progressive challenge, supporting skill acquisition in a low-risk but purposeful setting.
Pyramid Sessions: You will ride in a group around the velodrome, gradually raising the pace of the group at a set time as the coach whistles to achieve a set speed and then the group will gradually slow down at set intervals back to recovery pace.
Joint Sessions: From time to time you will join riders from our domestic programme and university pathways and train together. This may be for a road ride, BMX, MTB or Cyclocross training session.
Course Details
- Up to 15 hours of training per week
- Monthly performance reviews
- Off the bike seminars including:
- Sports Science
- Sports Psychology
- Anti-doping
- Lifestyle
- Career planning
- Compete in regional and national races
- Coached sessions at the National Cycling Centre
- Road rides and training sessions in the Peak District and Cheshire Countryside
- Strength and conditioning sessions
- Manchester Cycling Academy branded kit bundle including indoor and outdoor clothing
- 15 hours per week of classroom based English language lessons at our British Council accredited partner school
- Supervised creation of rider profile/ career CV
- Introduction to British semi-professional and professional cycling teams
When does the course start?
When does the course start?
- Start dates every January or September
- Sample the British cycling way of life
- Join regional track leagues
- Up to 2-3 hours of training each day
- 3-7 sessions per week
- Courses range from 8 weeks to 10 months
What experience will I need?
- Cycling is a physically demanding sport and you will need a good level of fitness before starting the course.
- We can help you with this in the months before the course starts.
Course Progression
Whether you want to be a professional cyclist, move onto be a performance coach or study sports science at University, this course aims to challenge and support your development to be the best you can be. Some examples of routes you can take once you have graduated from Manchester International Cycling Academy are below.
- Professional Cycling
- Bike Mechanic
- Sports Coach
- University
- Sports Science
- Physiotherapy
- PE Teaching
- Sports Marketing
- Sports Coaching
- Sports Management
- Sports Development
Why Manchester?
Manchester is ranked within the top 30 cities in the world in the 2022 Globe Liveability Index, and deservedly so. The city boasts a rich and varied cultural and social history, a vibrant city centre full of bars, cafes and restaurants, countless live music venues and of course, a world class sporting heritage.
The city itself is easy to navigate on foot or by the extensive bus and tram system with excellent access to a national network of transport links to all the other major cities of the UK.
There are an abundance of cycling facilities close to our base including the newly opened trails which were used during the 2022 Commonwealth Games. You can also attend the local Track, BMX or MTB leagues where you will be able to meet and compete against the best riders in the region.
Manchester is home to more than 100,000 students from all backgrounds and cultures and if you are successful in your application to join Manchester International Cycling Academy you will have arts, culture, history, music and theatre and a world of sports at all levels on your doorstep.
