The aim of the programme is to reinforce the professionalism and quality of the management of teams by improving the skills of Directors Sportifs.
uciprotour.com said:The UCI Academy today launched a management training programme entitled "Turning Passion into Performance" aimed at the Directors Sportifs of UCI ProTeams and UCI Professional Continental Teams.
The programme has been developed by the UCI Academy under the UCI ProTour quality label, with the objective of promoting the universal development of high-level cycling. The aim of the programme is to reinforce the professionalism and quality of the management of teams by improving the skills of Directors Sportifs.
The training allows Directors Sportifs to improve their knowledge of many aspects of the sport, such as cycling regulations (sporting, technical and anti-doping) and team management (budgetary control, supervision of activities, human resources).
The first session of the programme will be held on 2-5 November 2009 at the World Cycling Centre, headquarters of the International Cycling Union (UCI) in Aigle, Switzerland. The working language will be English. Training sessions will subsequently alternate between French and English and will be held at the end of each season.
Participants who successfully complete the training will receive a certificate awarded by the UCI Academy and the Manchester Business School. Ultimately, anyone who wishes to become a Director Sportif must be in possession of this diploma (by 2013 for UCI ProTeams and 2015 for UCI Professional Continental Teams).
Alain Rumpf, UCI Pro Tour Manager, said: "The programme launched today represents an important step forward for the UCI ProTour with its objective of promoting excellence in cycling over all five continents. The UCI Academy's initiative offers an opportunity for Directors Sportifs to become even more professional and in this way will allow cycling as a whole to continue to progress."
Chris Solly, the Director of the UCI Academy, added: "The UCI Academy actively supports initiatives that contribute to the long-term development of cycling around the world. The UCI Academy is fully behind the UCI in its vision of the universal development of cycling. The training programme for Directors Sportifs is a further expression of the quality training provided by the UCI Academy, not only for athletes but also for team members and managers."
cyclingnews.com said:UCI Academy's inaugural programme to start in November
By 2015 the Sports Directors of all ProTour and Professional Continental cycling teams will be required to possess a management diploma endorsed by the International Cycling Union (UCI). The announcement of the qualification requirement came as the UCI launched the inaugural "Turning Passion into Performance" programme on Wednesday.
"The programme launched today represents an important step forward for the UCI ProTour with its objective of promoting excellence in cycling over all five continents," said the UCI's ProTour manager, Alain Rumpf. "The UCI Academy's initiative offers an opportunity for directeurs sportifs to become even more professional and in this way will allow cycling as a whole to continue to progress."
The UCI said by 2013 prospective sports directors of ProTour teams would require the diploma programme, with their colleagues at Pro Continental squads given until 2015 to complete the training.