How Dame Sarah Storey is creating a new generation of female cycling stars

After earning 17 Paralympic gold medals across both cycling and swimming, it’s fair to say Dame Sarah Storey is accustomed to success.

Now, Britain’s most decorated Paralympian is imparting the wisdom she has gained during an illustrious career onto a new generation of female cyclists.

Storey is the Principal of the ŠKODA DSI Cycling Academy, set up to support aspiring female cyclists and address the gender imbalance in the sport.

The year-long programme gives riders aged 18 to 24 the chance to experience the life of a professional rider. This all takes place under the tutelage of Storey, who gives advice on racing, training, and career progression beyond the Academy.

Each year, the Academy takes on more riders, and GiveMeSport Women caught up with Storey as she put a number of aspiring cyclists through their paces on a gruelling recruitment day.

Under the watchful eye of Storey, riders took part in a peak power test, a three-minute maximal test and a 12-minute steady state challenge, before heading outside to have their bike handling skills and straight-line speed assessed.

“We’re looking for a mixture of physical attributes, and then how they’ve been able to apply themselves, and be able to stay calm under pressure,” Storey explained. “That’s also really important.

“We have to draw a line somewhere. We could take every single girl we’ve tested today and make a real difference to their career. But unfortunately, there are only three places.”

Storey described her mentoring role as a “perfect fit”, citing a desire to support younger athletes. She also revealed she was hoping to put an end to the “disadvantages” suffered by girls in cycling.

“A lot of girls who start at an early age find they are doing less racing than