Champion cyclists supported by students on top tours

Students supported champion cyclists on gruelling European tours - gaining hands-on experience at the highest level.

The Sports Therapy undergraduates travelled to Belgium, France and Spain to take skills learned at the University of Essex into the world of elite road racing.

Kade Punter and Blaise Bekir were part of the support crew for junior world champions Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco across the summer.

Tofauti is home to the UK and Ireland's strongest young cycling talent - with its boys' and girls' juniors partnering with a WorldTour team and countless alumni going on to compete professionally.

Kade and Blaise played vital roles in helping the riders cope with the strain and stress of the multi-day races, providing post-stage massages, therapy, and logistical support.

Second-year student Blaise travelled to Belgium and Spain - helping secure podium finishes and secure a win in the Vuelta a Cantabria event.

The 20-year-old was vital in mending muscles after the 118km and 114km mountain stages and manned water and feed stations to keep the riders at peak performance
Blaise said: "This was such a great experience.

"It was really enjoyable to work independently using skills I had learnt from my first year at University as well as working within a team where you have to quickly adapt.

"This amazing opportunity has made me more certain I want to be involved with a traveling sports team and I've gained real insight into what this role within the cycling community.

"I really feel like I gained confidence and felt like I was able to positively help the team."

The School of Sport, Rehabilitation, and Exercise Sciences (SRES) students are the first to travel internationally for an event and build on Essex's long-running partnership with Tofauti.

The school's Human Performance Unit has working closely with the team for several years.

With undergraduates in the cutting-edge sports science lab providing vital pre-season testing for the racers.

Ian Mansel-Thomas, Team Principal for Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco, praised thew help of Essex.

He said: "It was great to have Blaise and Kade along to some of our big stage races over the summer.

"They really helped our young athletes recover and prepare for the next day's racing in the best way possible.

"Hopefully, we gave them a taste of life on the road with a cycling team, and we look forward to welcoming them, and other Essex students, back next season."

It is one of many links the department shares with elite sports with undergraduates gaining vital real-world experience working with international footballers, Premier League sides, and leading sportswear manufacturers.

Professor Nelson Cortes, Head of SRES, said: "We are incredibly proud of Blaise and Kade for representing Essex on the international stage.

"Opportunities like this highlight our commitment to giving students not only world-class teaching but also the chance to apply their skills in elite environments.

"Experiences with teams such as Tofauti help our graduates stand out - they leave Essex ready to make an immediate impact in professional sport, whether supporting athletes, driving innovation, or leading in the industry."