Shimano T.E.C. courses adopted by UCI mechanics programme
Shimano has announced that its T.E.C. courses will now form the foundation of the Union Cycliste Internationale’s (UCI) World Cycling Centre mechanics’ training programme.
Starting this month, the Shimano tutorials and video content will be delivered by UCI experts to mechanics worldwide, alongside some physical courses at the UCI’s Aigle, Switzerland base.
The collaboration furthers a partnership that dates back 21 years and participants in the courses will now cover skills ranging bike building, wheel building, maintenance, servicing, race preparation and position on the bike.
Myron Walraven, head of Shimano Europe Sports Marketing: “With this enhanced aspect of our partnership with the UCI, we are able to contribute to increasing the number of high skilled, professional bike mechanics around the world. Furthermore, we are able to support the behind-the-scenes heroes and, indirectly, provide a quality cycling experience for young and old, and amateurs and professionals around the world.”
The UCI’s WCC Mechanics’ courses are divided into three levels: Level 1 is a three-day introductory course that can be completed online; Level 2 is a two-week course for developing mechanics who must attend in person; Level 3, also two weeks and in person, is for experienced mechanics who will be working for teams or their National Federation.
In 2021 the UCI trained up 60 mechanics across its three level courses in Switzerland, but also handled international courses, training 16 in Egypt and 12 in China.
For 2022, Shimano has created specific videos that will be used for the Level 1 course. Participants of the two more advanced courses will have access to existing videos on the Shimano T.E.C platform.
Numerous former attendees have gone on to work for their National Federations, professional teams, local clubs or have set up their own bike shops. Hundreds of participants are expected to benefit from the mechanics training programme in 2022, with 10 courses scheduled over the three levels.
The UCI WCC Director Vincent Jacquet welcomed Shimano’s contribution to the courses: “The professionalisation of people working in cycling is one of our missions, and by providing access to their training videos, Shimano is helping us ensure that mechanics worldwide will be trained to the highest possible level.”
S-TEC is available to dealers in 189 countries worldwide with 30,000 members in Europe alone. European courses are subtitled in 10 languages and in 2021 the platform saw over 200,000 course completions. There are approximately 180 live courses to choose from at any time.
For more information about Shimano’s T.E.C. courses, dealers should contact their local distributor.