Back in January 2019, Canyon became the first major bike brand to sponsor a Zwift racing team. Since that day their men’s and women’s teams have seen a good amount of success in high profile community and Zwift-organized race events.
This week, Canyon announced the launch of a third group within their eSports team: a youth development squad!
This is another first in Zwift racing – it may be the first development Zwift team ever, in fact. It’s certainly the first youth team backed by a major bike brand.
The squad will consist of approximately 20 riders, ages 16-23, with a representative mix of male and female riders. They will be mentored by existing team riders like Alex West, Claudia Behring, Lionel Sanders, Kristin Falck, Lionel Vujasin, and Ione Johnson. This aspect of the setup is hugely beneficial, according to team manager Rhys Howell: “When you join our team, you’re joining a family that supports one another; team culture is something we really cherish. Our riders can provide invaluable advice in the same way we have supported Canyon’s other professional road teams like Alpecin-Fenix.”
Aiden Sinclair (16, Australia) has already been training with Canyon ZCC, helping them fine-tune things for the launch of the development squad. Here’s what he has to say about his experience so far:
For me, it has already been a great opportunity to connect with and learn from Ollie Jones and Alex West who I’ve raced with a lot within the SRAM Send it series and KOA leagues. On top of that, the team invited me to race at the highest level in a Zwift-sanctioned Pro-Am – this was a fantastic opportunity to test myself against the best in the business. I cannot wait for the full squad to be announced and to work with my new teammates from around the world.
Apply Now
Interested in joining the Canyon dev squad? We recommend reading their press release, then filling out their online application. Good luck!
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