Feature: trainSharp gives Josh Golliker Help to pro peloton

Feature looking at how Josh Golliker is the latest rider to be given a helping hand by trainSharp to sign for a pro team with FDJ in France

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Feature: trainSharp gives Josh Golliker Help to pro peloton

World Class coaching company trainSharp have been coaching novice to elite riders since 2004 and with the arrival of trainSharp’s development pathway and Junior/Under 23 Development teams, the dream of getting young talented Junior riders to the professional peloton has become a reality.

Photo:jsl-Gregory Monnot

trainSharp’s most recent professional graduate is Josh Golliker who has signed for the FDJ continental development team in France. Josh has been with trainSharp since he was racing in the youth category, training and racing under the watchful eyes of the trainSharp coaches.

As a youth rider, Josh was like most other talented young riders of his age – picking up some results but just racing for the enjoyment factor without too much direction. The 2017 season was the year Josh joined trainSharp’s ITP or ‘inspire talent programme’ whereby a totally bespoke training package is prescribed with the sole aim of developing young riders to achieve their dream of becoming a professional cyclist.

From this point onwards heading into Josh’s junior years, the coaches carefully and precisely laid out Josh’s bespoke plan to get the most out of his physiology. A large part of the Inspire Talent Programme is also mentoring and coaching the rider mentally to cope with the demands of being a professional cyclist whilst teaching race-craft and key tips for employability when the time comes to start reaching out to the Pro Teams.

The ITP process has been at the core of trainSharp since the company’s inception and over the years countless Pro stars have risen up through the ranks after ITP success. Riders such as James Shaw signing for Lotto, Eddie Dunbar to Sky and Ben Turner to Ineos Grenadiers have all been part of the ITP journey. It is therefore no surprise to see another rider following in their footsteps via a proven pathway.

It was in the winter of Josh’s first year as a Junior where trainSharp coach Chris Mcnamara who is a winner of many an event himself, started to really detect Josh’s progress from following the ITP plan: “The way Josh was riding was like nothing I’d seen from a junior rider before. The ability to soak up 25 hour + weeks back-to-back is something that even Pro riders can struggle with” explained Chris.

Chris had been training with Josh at the weekly ‘Chainy’ held at trainSharp’s HQ with Josh half-wheeling him for just about the entire 100-mile duration of the ride. It became clear that Josh was reacting and engaging extremely well with the ITP plan and now needed the opportunity to shine on the world stage.

Photo:jsl xc

Josh’s first races of the season in the UK really showed off his new found performance. Winning several rounds of the British Cycling National Junior Series almost easily. At the Velomax Junior Road Race, Josh punctured, got back to the bunch and rode past them into a breakaway going on to win the race solo – not something that can be done with sub-par power numbers!

It was riding in the development team where Josh really amassed the results and with the perks of the dev team, Josh was only just beginning.

Business owner and Head Coach Jon Sharples decided to move things forward to the next stage of trainSharp’s development pathway – “Based on Chris’s feedback and the early season performances in the development team, I knew I had to get Josh onto the continent. It was just a matter of getting Josh into the longest, hardest races where we knew he could outperform the other juniors that don’t train in the same way as he does” Jon explained.

Jon illuded several times to Josh’s training prowess and ability to produce his best numbers right at the end of a race – a key trait of a stage race winning performer. It was at this point, Jon set about putting his world tour connections to good use, phone calls were made and a deal was done. Josh packed up his bike for the summer and headed to France.

Photo: jsl gm

The team that Josh would be riding for was the JollyCycles Under 19 development team that were entering the Ain Bugey Valromey Tour, a race informally known as The U19 Tour de France! Racing up the famous col’s from the Tour de France is surely the best showcase for any Junior rider and Josh made the most of it!

Breaking away from the pack solo before being joined by five other riders, coming home for a 6th place result on his first ever race in France and after 5 stages coming home for a top 10 finish on the GC. The whole summer, Josh took result after result winning famous stage races such as the La Ronde Des Vallees UCI race.

Following Josh’s success in France, trainSharp were quietly confident a team would snap up the young talent. It was just a matter of time and sure enough after negotiations, reviewing contracts and signing on the dotted line, it was confirmed that Josh would spend the 2023 and 2024 season with the Groupama-FDJ continental team.

The whole trainSharp team were delighted with Josh’s success and progress and cannot wait to welcome more juniors onto the team to follow in Josh’s footsteps. Jon says “we have the proven formula we can coach young riders to World Tour success. Our development teams and ITP package is made for rider development and Josh’s story is a great example of how we breed success”.

Please do remember if you’re a youth or junior rider looking for the ultimate in rider development, trainSharp are always on the lookout for young riders with the mentality, work ethic and maturity to be a part of their development pathway and ITP Programme.

Please contact info@trainsharp.co.uk /01892 577 802 or visit www.trainsharp.co.uk for more information

 

 

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