WEYMOUTH’S Rebecca Raybould has been selected for the British Cycling talent team.

Raybould, 15, who rides for Poole Wheelers, began her cycling journey at the Bournemouth Velodrome, is one of just 20 riders chosen from an initial application of 112.

The Talent Programme operates on two levels, the regionally based Talent Development Pro-gramme which supports the development of locally nominated riders from 13 to 16 years of age at Regional Schools of Racing (RSRs) and the nationally-based Olympic Talent Team programme.

The selection procedure took part at Manchester Velodrome and consisted of the Talent team coaches doing on and off bike assessments includ- ing power output on a Watt bike. Raybould has been cycling for less than a year and says she is “honoured to have been offered a place on the team and is determined to do British Cycling proud.”

The talent team hold monthly training camps and will learn skills from more experienced members of the Great Britain squad.

Currently attending the Wey Valley Sports College, she is studying all the usual base subjects as well as photography, GCSE PE, geography and German and is also taking her silver Duke of Edinburgh award having completed bronze sil- ver and gold levels in the Cycling award for Young Volunteers.

She said: “I think the hardest thing for me this year won’t be the cycling challenges put before me but it will be difficult balancing my school work with my training and races.”

“My main ambition is to become a professional cyclist and my aim is to become an Olympic champion. I also intend to take coaching courses in cycling and would like to become a coach after that.”

The youngster who enjoys both track and road racing, and has her sights set firmly on the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.