By Nick Butler

Chris Froome wearing yellow jerseyAugust 6 - Success by the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Laura Trott have inspired record numbers of youngsters to get on their bikes in the past year, according to figures announced today by British Cycling.


In addition to under 18 membership of the organisation increasing by 42 per cent in the last 12 months, youth membership of Britain's 287 Go-Ride funded cycling clubs has also rocketed, including in the 37 clubs which formed in the past year.

Britain's recent success has included eight gold medals at the London Olympic Games as well as Tour de France victories for Sir Bradley in 2012 and Froome in 2013 (pictured).

This success has been attributed via a bandwagon effect to the improved participation levels.

yougsters go rideYoungsters inspired by the Go Ride Cycling Programme



"Success on the podium at the Olympics and the triumphs at the Tour de France have clearly inspired the next generation to get involved – and this interest is still going strong," said British Cycling's Director of Coaching, Education and Development, John Mills.

"The Go-Ride programme provides a fun and safe way to introduce young riders to the world of cycle sport.

"That's everything from mountain biking and BMX, to the track events the world watched in the London Velodrome last year.

"We've been developing the Go-Ride programme across the country, to ensure that opportunities are provided for everyone who wants to get involved and to turn that inspiration into participation."

The Go-Ride programme was first set up in 2009 to help youngsters to take their first steps into competitive racing and to encourage potential talent, and claims to have already inspired 50,000 young beginners into the sport.

trott and kennyLaura Trott and Jason Kenny have won five Olympic titles between them and both graduated into the GB team from Go-Ride clubs



Almost 250 Go-Ride events took place throughout 2012, compared to 386 already planned since January 2013, while over 60 per cent of the riders in contention for qualification for the Rio Olympics in 2016 have developed from Go-Ride clubs.

That number includes Jason Kenny, winner of three gold medals at the last two Olympic Games in the sprint events, London 2012 road race silver medalist Lizzie Armistead, and double London Olympic champion Trott, who is fresh also from a recent triumph on the road at the Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix.

The RideLondon weekend also included mass participation rides for over 65,000 recreational riders including many of the youngsters recently attracted to the sport.

Its success, combined with with the rising participation levels and elite medal tally, helps explain why British Cycling was named Governing Body of the Year at the 2013 Sports Industry Awards.

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