Cycling: Schubert eyes Olympics

5:47pm Friday 25th January 2002

FAR from putting his feet up during the close season, Jonathan Schubert of the Verulam Cycling Club has been building his reputation on the national scene.

After a good performance at the Gosling Stadium in Welwyn Garden City early in December, Schubert came to the attention of the Olympic Development Committee and was invited up to Manchester for a national assessment.

Here, the 15-year-old underwent a number of standard tests devised to establish potential and most suitable discipline.

"They do tests like that because they're tyring to establish the rider's profile pure speed or brute strength," said Peter Rogers, cycling coach at Verulam Cycling Club.

One such test measured pedalling speed on a training bike, without any resistance.

After managing 244 revolutions per minute, Schubert was identified as a sprinter.

"Very few people can go much higher than that," Rogers said. "He has very good pedal speed and useful acceleration, which is good for sprinters."

The Olympic Development Committee has been set up to identify and develop future Olympic sportmen.

"He's been spotted and is in the net now," Rogers said, adding that Schubert's performances this season have surprised him.

"At this stage, we can't say how far he'll go. In another two or three years, when he's in the junior ranks and racing against the best junior cyclists in the country, we'll know more."

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