The Irish Talented Athlete Program (Team iTap) is the U23 Development Cycling Program that provides scholarships to riders who wish to make a career in cycling and endeavour to become full-time professional cyclists and athletes.
The scholarship program provides individual coaching, full performance laboratory facilities for athlete analysis such as lactate testing, biomechanical analysis, bike fitting etc., sports specific strength & conditioning, physiotherapy, orthopaedic sports massage, injury management, nutritional planning and analysis among others. All of the above being supplied by their sponsors and partners at The Athlete Clinic
The scholarship also provides riders with clothing by www.kalas.ie who provide all race and civilian clothing to the team. www.oneillcycles.com of Tuam are team equipment sponsors, which includes servicing and all consumables. www.bike-clinic.com are race food and transport servicing suppliers to the team.
The team also provides services to all major races domestically both single day and stage races. Their sponsor and partner base is growing and evolving and they will be expanding their abilities for developing U23 riders through 2016 and beyond which will include more international racing with their next trip abroad commencing in the next fortnight.
Team iTap are inviting 2nd Year Juniors in 2016 and U23 riders to apply for a scholarship by way of Sporting Curriculum Vitae (SCV).
**Please note that Juniors will avail of all the scholarship advantages but remain and race with their home club until they become U23 at which time they will ride in the colour’s of Team iTap. U23 Riders will commence with the Team once contracts have been signed. **
The closing date for applications is the 1st August 2015 with riders being interviewed through August and contracts awarded to successful applicants in September
The first year of the program in 2014 saw the development Junior riders win 22 races & jerseys including the overall in Rás Donegal 3-Day.
With all riders moving into the U23 ranks for 2015, the Team won:
• Rás Maigheo to start the year
• 7 individual race wins,
• U23 Classification in Rás Donegal
• Over 20 Top 10 placing’s in National League Events and Monument one day races through Ireland.
Should you be interested in a seat with the Team or as an apprentice junior through 2016 you can send your SCV to irishtalentedathleteprogram@gmail.com or contact them through Facebook or @TeamiTap on Twitter
