YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Supporting Tomorrow's Champions: Our Enduring Investment in Youth Riders
Watching the next generation take up our beloved sport ignites a special feeling for those who've spent decades living cycling's emotional peaks and valleys. That wide-eyed excitement recalling our own early days pinning on numbers, reminds us why racing on two wheels is the best feeling in the world, instilled in us at an early age.
Which is why nurturing youth riders lives central to the Verge DNA.
Before we ever dressed National, Olympic and World Champions, we supported young riders chasing local glory. Founder Mike Magur, and Director David Sommerville, know cultivating youth racing safeguards cycling's future.
Every year Verge renews partnerships and start new ones that empower youth riders' critical developmental leap onto the international stage, like sponsoring the EuroCross Academy's annual Kerstperiode campaign. Recent graduate AJ August claimed a seat at leading World Tour team Ineos Grenadiers (Hot Tubes), Samantha Scott (Competitive Edge) to Lotto Dstny Ladies, and Verge has supported pros such as Sepp Kuss (Gateway Harley Davidson) when they were starting out.
Moments like these inspire Verge to keep perfecting apparel that give young athletes tools to unlock their potential, since every racing legend first tested themselves on neighbourhood racing circuits just like ours.
That’s why you’ll find Verge supporting Youth and Junior Teams, planting seeds to help cycling flourish for generations. After all, the sport only survives if we nurture its heart. We remain committed to fostering talent that chases Olympic golds or Saturday podiums alike. Because their hopeful eyes reflect cycling’s future and drives us to keep innovating and sharing our passion for the sport we love.
Here are a selection of Teams that are supported by Verge.
HOT TUBES (USA)
Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team is the longest running and most successful junior cycling program in North America. Founded by Toby Stanton in 1992, the team has always focused on developing junior cyclists. The team has more than 120 alumni and close to 20 who are currently competing in cycling professionally. Their team has produced the most professional cyclists in American history and has 3 current World Tour riders.
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VERGE RACING (USA)
Verge has spent over 20 years providing the best team cycle clothing for riders around the world. Our goal is to bridge the gap from Fun to Pro by introducing athletes to new opportunities, supported through mentorship and providing in-depth experiences to produce the next generation of cycling champions. The majority of staff at Verge started as Juniors and are still racing decades later. This program is our way of giving back.
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THE LEAD OUT CYCLING ACADEMY (EUROPE)
This unique project is the largest cycling pyramid in Belgium with more than 170 athletes. Spanning youth ages U12 to U23, The Lead Out Cycling Academy develops well-rounded competitors built for the WorldTour ranks through comprehensive cycling knowledge and individualized development programs. The list of professionals in the World Tour that stems from this team is second to none.
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COMPETITIVE EDGE (USA)
Competitive Edge is a 80-member multidisciplinary cycling development program strongly promoting women's and junior participation via clinics and group rides, with specialisation excelling nationally in cyclocross yet welcoming all skill levels across their Club and Elite branches. Approaching half a decade outfitting their endeavours across Road, MTB and CX racing, Verge continues to support Competitive Edge's commitment.
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TEAM CALIFORNIA (USA)
When creating Team California, Managing Director AJ Kennedy realized the need for a transition program for young riders leaving the junior ranks and moving up to the elite level. The focus during the 2023 season was to create the initial squad and build a core group of riders that became the foundation for adding young talent. More riders were added to the roster with the goal of reaching the highest level – the Pro Road Tour and UCI invitation races.
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DCR (EUROPE)
DCR Cycling began in 2013 in order create a competitive cycling program, using main sponsor DCR's backing to recruit talent that drove early wins and created a strong reputation, becoming an enduring top team still progressing today. DCR's rider development pathway allows gifted athletes tools and technology to excel professionally in the sport while management's passion fuels continual innovation advancing achievements year after year.
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TEAM RYTGER (EUROPE)
Team RYTGER develops international-level women junior cyclists seeking to build competitive skills and gain experience competing at broad European events as emerging young athletes. With a platform enabling talented young women opportunities to race overseas against global up-and-coming riders, Team RYTGER strives to put its racers on track towards UCI Women’s World Tour contention.
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EUROCROSS ACADEMY (USA)
Since 2003 EuroCrossAcademy has developed 14-20 year old cyclocross riders by providing domestic and European opportunities focused on character and long-term participation over race results alone, serving as a bridge for athletes to reach national teams and professional careers. Verge has fuelled their mission to shape well-rounded ambassadors for the sport by using competitions to impart meaningful life skills that prioritising personal growth.
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FINKRAFT (USA)
Finkraft Junior Development began cultivating elite junior cyclocross competitors in 2015, focusing equally on racing success internationally along with resilience/life skill building. Over 5+ years, Verge has proudly equipped Finkraft athletes as they excel at the highest echelons globally. Blending cycling prowess and personal maturity development, Finkraft prepares well-rounded athletes confident in all types of under pressure situations.
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RIBBLE VERGE (EUROPE)
The Ribble – Verge cyclocross development team supports up and coming British talent with technical support and guidance as well as an international race calendar in order to best prepare riders for future Elite ranks. Since 2019, the team has enjoyed numerous victories including UK National Trophy and Championship wins as well as a victory at the prestigious Koppenbergcross in Belgium and podium at the UCI Cyclocross World Championship.
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CX HAIRS DEVO (USA)
CX Hairs Devo is an American cyclocross development team creating some of the country's best men's and women's racers of tomorrow. The team features multiple junior and U23 national champions, and is sending riders to Europe to tackle the sport's biggest events. If you want to know why the future of American cyclocross is bright, look no further than this little squad centered in the Mid-Atlantic.
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VETRAPO B-CLOSE (EUROPE)
Vetrapo B-Close Cycling Team concentrates on developing U23 and Elite riders, enabling their athletes to hone competitive skills against tough competition on the Flemish race scene to maximize their potential for reaching the professional ranks. Its comprehensive support network of veteran mentors, equipment and racing opportunities accelerates each rider’s capabilities towards Europe's top cycling tiers.
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VELOSPORT (USA)
VeloSport is America’s largest junior road cycling program started in 2008, growing from 6 passionate riders into a 40+ member inclusive community today welcoming all skill levels and goals to learn, race, make friends and above all have fun. Originally from Orange County but now with a broad geographic reach, Verge has proudly fuelled CCAP's youth athletics journey over almost 5 years of partnership.
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NE DEVO (USA)
NE Devo is a Junior men’s and women’s development program focused on nurturing emerging talent, producing notable alumni like Liv AlUla Jayco’s Kaia Schmid and Continental Project Echelon's Ethan Crane while providing a pathway onto national teams. Verge's sponsorship enables them to develop the next generation, like promising local cyclocross racer Alexander Scopinich-Burgel who recently claimed a place on the USA Cyclocross National Team.
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CCAP (USA)
The CT Cycling Advancement Program introduced thousands of 9-18 year olds to cycling since 2013 through progressive structured offerings, now standing as one of the nation's largest junior programs for skills development ranging from safe traffic riding to elite road racing. CCAP's open philosophies around access, paired with Verge's 5 years support, empowers the next generation to pursue two-wheeled sports at every level.
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KZLWC (EUROPE)
Spanning youth categories from U12 through U23, KZLWC enables young Belgian cyclocross racers to hone competitive skills and progress steadily against age-appropriate challenges to unlock individual potential season-over-season. Their comprehensive developmental pipeline grounded in individual progression cultivates champions through a supportive community nourishing a balanced passion for competition.
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NJCX (USA)
NJCX Project is a New Jersey based junior cyclocross program nurturing youth skills via season-long training and racing support, now entering a 3rd year partnered with Verge. With cycling community cultivation at its core, NJCX Project helps future generations build foundations to excel while shaping leadership capabilities beyond just the race course. A philosophy that is close to Verge's heart.
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HUGH OG MULHEARNE (EUROPE)
As part of our ongoing passion to support and develop young local riders we would like to introduce Hugh Og Mulhearne, racing for Vergesport Pi Cycles in Ireland - a team that specialises in CX. Hugh Og is a highly promising U16 rider but needed that little extra knowledge and experience to help his further development. Under Vergesport Pi Cycles tutelage he's already podiuming in UCI World Cup CX races.
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