The UBC Thunderbirds Cycling Sport Club provides an opportunity for athletes to compete in high-level sport while granting new riders a comprehensive immersion into the sport of cycling. 

Eligibility Requirements:

No past racing experience is required. We are looking for hard-working riders with good attitudes. Please ensure that you have the right equipment (road bike with skinny tires and working gears).

Members are required to fulfill the following:

• Full-time student (minimum 9 credits per semester)
• Weekly Saturday rides during the Winter session 8:30 am at Thunderbird Stadium. (NOTE: After tryouts, athletes must be rostered to attend group rides.)
• Additional weekly training sessions

Members will need a valid passport and UCI Race License in order to compete in the USA. (Note: Do not purchase a new race license until after January 1st for racing in 2024.)

Tryouts: 

The 2023/2024 team will be capped at around 20 athletes. Should more than 20 athletes be interested in joining, we will hold tryouts. Tryouts will be based on an athlete’s level of commitment to the team and general athleticism. If an athlete is unable to attend weekly Saturday rides and complete the required training sessions, they will likely not make the team.

Although we look for cycling ability, we also focus on prospective development and contribution to a positive team environment. We are scoping for athletes that are eager and capable of competing come race season.

Feel free to contact us at cycling.sc@ubc.ca if you have any questions.

Team Fees:

The 2023/2024 Team Fees are TBD and Subject to Change.

Training Schedule:

Weekly Saturday morning team rides at 8:30 am leaving from Thunderbird Stadium September through April. The ride usually lasts 3 to 5 hours. Additional indoor and outdoor training sessions will be required during the week. There are no mandatory group rides over reading week or exam period.

Competition Schedule:

Our competition schedule is comprised of both local and collegiate racing. Local racing begins in March and occurs almost every weekend till the end of June. The Vancouver racing scene is competitive and growing which makes for tight and fun racing!

The collegiate series will take place from April to June. Races are around 1 to 13 hours’ driving distance from Vancouver, depending on the host. For out-of-town races, the team will usually depart from Vancouver on Fridays (often later in the day if possible, to allow for members to attend their classes), and drive back after races finish on Sunday morning. A collegiate weekend includes a road race and team time trial on Saturday and a criterium on Sunday morning.

Academic requirements:

Team members are required to maintain good academic standing – minimum 60% average or passing standards as identified by their faculty – and must not be on academic probation.

Team members must be students at the University of British Columbia who are registered in an Undergraduate or Graduate 9-credit course load per term in the current winter session, or fulfilling the requirements for a PhD/Masters, or Co-op Program. (Students registered in diploma programs, certificate programs, or affiliated colleges/ programs with the University of British Columbia including: Carey Theological College, Regent College, St. Mark’s College, and the Vancouver School of Theology, are not eligible for active membership in a UBC Thunderbirds Sport Club.)

Interest Form:

Interested in joining the team? Please complete the following form so we can contact you during our recruiting period in September 2023.

2019-2020 Collegiate Season Results in the NWCCC June Strava Challenge:

1st Place in the Team Omnium (overall standings)

• 1 second place finish
• 4 third place finishes

2018-2019 Collegiate Season Results in the NWCCC:

1st Place in the Team Omnium (overall standings)

23 UBC riders competing in all categories

• 15 race wins
• 15 second place finishes
• 11 third place finishes
• 12 fourth place finishes

2017-2018 Collegiate Season Results in the NWCCC:

4th Place in the Team Omnium (overall standings)

17 UBC riders competing in all categories

• 13 race wins
• 14 second place finishes
• 16 third place finishes
• 9 fourth place finishes

2016-2017 Collegiate Season Results in the NWCCC:

3rd Place in the Team Omnium (overall standings)

24 UBC riders competing in all categories

• 12 race wins
• 16 second place finishes
• 16 third place finishes
• 11 fourth place finishes

2015-2016 Collegiate Season Results in the NWCCC:

6th place in the Team Omnium (overall standings)

18 UBC riders competing in Women’s A, B and Men’s A, B, C, D categories including:

• 5 race wins
• 7 second place finishes
• 7 third place finishes
• 5 fourth place finishes

Non-Collegiate Results:

2016 USA National U23 Mtn Bike Champion – Claire Anderson
2016 USA Hill Climb Nationals – Bronze – Margot Clyne
Colorado State Road Champion (SW 1-2) – Margot Clyne
2017 USA Hill Climb National Champion – Margot Clyne

As a part of the UBC AMS Bike Club, our team dates back to the 1990’s, but was recently revived four years ago after many years of dormancy. Following the return of the competitive side of the club in 2014, it has gone from just a handful of riders to more than twenty racers in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

The 2016-17 season marked our inaugural year as a competitive sport club with UBC Thunderbirds Sport Clubs. The club has seen better overall standings since joining TSC. We have moved from 6th, to 3rd, to 4th place in the end of season team standings in the NWCCC over the past years. The 2017-2018 season had several notable accomplishments including holding 2nd place overall in the team omnium for several weeks, and winning the Men’s B and Women’s C omniums.

Former club lead and alumnus Margot Clyne transitioned from competing for UBC Cycling to riding with professional women’s race team. Currently, Margot races for DNA Pro Cycling based in the US. She was pivotal in our establishment as a Thunderbird Sport Club and brought together our strong women’s team.