Combining his dual passions for cycling and his ancestral homeland, Tony Lourakis, CEO of the Toronto-based global company Fleet Complete, will sponsor a cycling academy in Greece which aims to inspire, develop and strengthen the future of the country’s young cyclists.
The Fleet Complete Cycling Academy will partner with the Netherlands-based SEG Racing Academy, which has graduated 12 young riders to the professional ranks in the past four years. The academy will be responsible for developing cyclists from the junior to U23 levels.
“At Fleet Complete, we believe in innovation and people in the field of mobility in all its forms. This is why we are so proud to launch the Fleet Complete Cycling Academy…” Lourakis said. “We want to provide a rare opportunity that will help unleash the potential of young Greek athletes, aspiring to be successful in the Classics or Grand Tours.”
SEG Racing Academy Manager Bart van Haaren said the academy has had a strong bond with Greece for the past five years and has sent athletes to train during wintertime in the seaside town of Loutraki.
“We are excited to expand the blueprint of our successful Racing Academy to a new dimension…” van Haaren said. “It’s great that we can start this ambitious project together with Fleet Complete.”
Fleet Complete is a leading global provider of connected vehicle technology, delivering mission-critical fleet, asset and mobile workforce management solutions. The company services close to 500,000 subscribers and more than 30,000 businesses in 16 countries and has won numerous awards for innovation and growth.
The Fleet Complete Cycling Academy will base its training grounds in Loutraki, which is in the region of Corinth. It will start a two-year process of choosing the right candidates in cooperation with cycling clubs across Greece and form a four-person team that will train to compete in international races.
“Many young athletes show great talent in cycling, but might never manage to move to the next stage because they are unable to compete internationally,” Lourakis said. “Fleet Complete Cycling Academy will provide young Greek athletes with the right professional support and the proper framework to compete on an international scale.”
Aspiring candidates can apply through the academy website.
