Cycling club earns high ranking

MIDDLETOWN — The CT Cycling Advancement Program was recently named the top cycling club in the United States for 2017 in Division I by USA Cycling. USA Cycling, the premiere bicycling organization in America and their vision is to make the United States the most successful country in the world of competitive cycling with a mission to achieve sustained success in international cycling competition and grow competitive cycling here in the states.

Three clubs, including CCAP, earned overall Club of the Year honors in Divisions I, II, and III and an additional seven clubs earned special awards in the junior, masters’, women’s, new club, mountain bike, track, cyclocross, collegiate club and collegiate varsity categories. National winners include Division I — CT Cycling Advancement Program, Middletown.

CT Cycling Advancement Program took the Division I title for 2016 based on its development of a youth cycling program with three distinctive tiers and focus on community impact. These tiers applied again this year which was primarily to provide a pathway for beginner riders as well as elite riders on the national circuit. After just over four years of existence, the CCAP youth programs in the area have experienced unprecedented growth with almost 500 youth currently participating in 35 scholastic and municipalitybased programs. Children from these programs have gone on to participate in national and international competition. CCAP’s programs provide a coached, fun, team-oriented atmosphere for youth to learn and thrive in the sport of cycling.

“The CCAP coaches and current members across the state work very hard to provide youth with opportunities to discover bicycle racing. Receiving this recognition is a great honor and we are grateful to USA Cycling for everything it does to make CCAP’s growth possible,” said CCAP Executive Director David Hoyle, in a written statement. “We are confident that the current 39 middle school, high school, and youth travel team programs are just the beginning of widespread success of this great sport in Connecticut and beyond. We intend to keep the momentum going through the balance of 2017 and far into the future.”

In addition to bragging rights, the winning clubs will receive a trophy and complimentary renewal fees for 2017.