Future
Stars
Love and live cycling, even at a young age? And how can tough competition be combined with a lot of fun? Our ideas for this are in the Maloja Pushbikers Future Stars.
In spring 2007, a cycling club was founded in the small Upper Bavarian town of Irschenberg, from which not only an elite team – today’s Maloja Pushbikers – emerged, but also the promotion of young talents was considered from the very beginning. The RSV Irschenberg is one of the most successful clubs in Germany with its youth work on the road and track. The children and young people wear the same jerseys as the “big ones”, their name makes the goal clear: enjoyment of cycling, vision and sustainability.
And what is it about the name?
We came across the term “Future Stars” at the British Revolution race series. Here, junior races were part of the overall concept on the track. Girls and boys from the age of 15 rode with cycling stars like Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins or Mark Cavendish in the same team jersey. This inspired us and so the Maloja Pushbikers Future Stars project was born following the club’s work. It shows the way: into the future.
The Project
“It is or special concern to promote and support young talents at an early age. For this purpose, we have created the Future Stars back in 2014 in the style of the “big” Pushbikers – a children’s and youth team that has grown strongly in recent years. This makes us proud and shows us again and again how important joy and fun, future and a perspective in cycling are”.
(Christian Grasmann)
Sustainability and success
“The focus is on having fun with cycling. We promote young people in all age groups and in different disciplines (road bike, MTB and track). This develops into competitive sport for many young people. The Maloja Pushbikers road team serves as a tangible, concrete role model – much closer than the stars from TV. That is incredibly motivating. And some people, such as Laurin von Stetten, have already made the jump to the Maloja Pushbikers, or to other big professional teams. I would say that the Future Stars are a successful concept. ”
(Christian Lichtenberg)
Highlights and how to recognise the Future Stars
German Championships, European Championships, International Kids Tour and many race events more … but also: bus parties, pool sessions at the races, carnival party at the training camp, deep snow games, cross-country skiing and mountain walking in the dark.
On the bike you can easily recognise them: eye-catching jersey! In the past years, the look changed every year, just like the big Pushbikers. Camouflage, indigo blue, green forest, alpine glow- because their love of design also makes them part of the Pushbikers family.
Future Stars
Head Coach
Christian is the youth leader of the club, active in the cycling youth of the district of Upper Bavaria as well as an expert in women’s and men’s road cycling for Eurosport.
Future Stars
Our Coaches
The Future Stars train in several age- and performance-dependent groups and always under the supervision of a coach. Some of them joined the club at a young age and remain committed to the concept; Claudia and Johannes look back on a professional career themselves. In sporting terms, but also in personal and social terms, they are indispensable for the boys and girls and likewise for the overall concept of the Pushbikers. Thank you very much for your commitment and the time you give us!
“I know cycling from long experience as a professional – our young athletes are just starting out. It is especially important to me to help our young riders find a meaningful focus for their sport. Often that means less evaluation and more freedom in the actual cycling, less excitement before the race, more concentration on key parts, less pressure, more fun!”
(Claudia Lichtenberg)
