About us

Building Athletes for Life

Team California is a professionally managed cycling development program, guided by directors, coaches, and supporters who collectively bring over 200 years of experience in the sport of cycling. Now in our 12th year, our program is built on the principles of Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), using cycling as a vehicle for young athletes to build essential life skills, confidence, and resilience. Our work is grounded in a lifetime of engagement with the sport and in our role as host organization for one of the most prestigious stage races in the nation, the Redlands Bicycle Classic, which anchors our athletes in the heart of American racing tradition.

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A Vertically Centered Pathway
We have created a vertically centered pathway that connects new riders, juniors, and U23 athletes in one coherent system. Riders can enter the Academy as beginners, grow through a comprehensive domestic and international junior calendar, and now progress into a dedicated U23 pathway that prepares them for professional opportunities. At each stage, athletes know where they are, what comes next, and how we will support them on and off the bike.

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Our Philosophy
We prioritize holistic development over short-term results and pressure. Our mission is to help young riders use their bikes to explore their world, develop a personal identity within the sport, and, most importantly, become active for life. We believe the true measure of success is not a single season of results, but a lifetime of healthy engagement with movement, community, and purpose. This lasting connection is cultivated through the physical literacy, emotional maturity, and decision-making skills our athletes gain in our programs.

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Our Domestic and International Calendars
For juniors, we offer a comprehensive race calendar that blends domestic and international opportunities:

• Junior Domestic Calendar: Structured exposure to local and regional events, major stage races (including Redlands), and national-level competitions that teach race craft, resilience, and teamwork while still protecting their development and joy in the sport.

• Junior International Calendar: European race programs and select overseas blocks that introduce riders to international competition in a supportive, educational environment, helping them learn how to travel, adapt, and perform away from home.

These experiences now feed directly into our U23 pathway, where athletes gain access to deeper race roles, more complex calendars, and targeted preparation for elite and professional environments.

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Elite and U23 Pathways
While our core focus is participation, health, and personal growth, we provide robust competitive pathways for those ready to pursue racing at a higher level:

• Introductory Competition: Local and regional events designed to safely and positively introduce young riders to competition, emphasizing skill, sportsmanship, and fun over pressure.

• Junior Elite Pathways: Domestic and European race programs for those aspiring to high-level junior competition and national team consideration, framed within our athlete development principles.

• U23 Pathway: A new, integrated domestic elite and international race structure specifically for U23 athletes, offering a bridge from successful junior racing to professional pathway development. This includes targeted race calendars, mentorship, and planning for riders who are academically driven, professionally ambitious, or on track toward the WorldTour.

 

Our Core Identity
Across junior and U23 levels, our identity is clear: we form a community where athletes are valued as people first and performers second. We reject the transactional culture that treats young riders as disposable and instead commit to relationships, long-term growth, and genuine care. Team California exists to build athletes for life—whether that life leads to the WorldTour, a medical degree, an engineering career, or simply a lifelong love of riding.