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about genride
we are genride
TWO WHEELS AND A REBEL HEART – or how the foundation was created: Our founder, Roman Arnold, spent countless hours on his racing bike during his youth. He benefited greatly from the club structures and the public presence of cycling at that time. His environment had a profound influence on his development. While working in the cycling industry, he developed a desire to actively promote the sport for children and young adults.
During the founding phase, we defined the mission, vision and goals of the operational foundation. These principles form the basis for the work of the Generation Ride Foundation, ensuring that the focus always remains on its core purpose: inspiring children and young people to cycle while giving them access to a sport that not only encourages movement, but also builds community, diversity, and personal development.
OUR VISION
WE SEE THEM RIDING – We want to offer children and young people the opportunity to express themselves freely and build self-confidence through cycling in a supportive environment.
We envisage cycling becoming the go‑to activity for movement and belonging to an active community for the next generation. The joy for the sport within this community will grow even stronger, inspiring others and continually expanding the community.
A new generation of talented cyclists will grow within the community. Their success stories will inspire and motivate others.
Barriers to participation will be reduced through transparent and easily accessible information. And most importantly, everyone is welcome.
We are also working toward making bicycles the number‑one mode of transport for children and young people in their daily lives.
Over time, a broad network of partnerships with schools, sports clubs, local communities, and businesses should develop within the community. These will support each other to establish a stable infrastructure for youth support in sports and promote cycling in general.
We hope that cycling becomes even more positively embedded in society and serves as a platform for personal growth, health promotion and community building.
OUR MISSION
SPEED FOR NEED – The Generation Ride Foundation is dedicated to supporting the next generation of cyclists, discovering young talent and increasing enthusiasm for cycling throughout society. Through targeted education, training and mentoring programs, we aim to foster both the athletic and personal development of young riders, creating a new generation of athletes and cycling enthusiasts who thrive both on and off the bike.
RIDE LOUD, RIDE PROUD
Our mission is built on several key pillars: We support active clubs committed to youth development and creating open access to the sport by connecting potential young riders with these clubs. In doing so, we focus on equal opportunity and easy accessibility for everyone.
We actively work to break down entry barriers and reduce hurdles to make it easier to get started in cycling. We support both grassroots participation and performance-oriented programs. We develop easy-to-implement concepts for skills training and coach education and we offer open training sessions directly through the foundation.
Through training camps, competitions and support programs, we encourage young talent to reach their full potential and achieve their sporting goals. Experienced coaches and mentors provide a smooth and welcoming introduction to the sport.
By partnering with schools, clubs, local communities and other organizations, we create a supportive environment that expands the reach of our cycling programs. We pool expert knowledge and work together toward our shared mission.
We connect young people with seasoned figures in the world of cycling and promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyone, regardless of social, economic, or cultural background has access to sporting opportunities.
Additionally, we are committed to raising awareness about the environmentally friendly aspects of cycling and inspiring young people to embrace sustainable mobility.
OUR GOALS
A WIDE OPEN ROAD – We are committed to breaking down barriers to make cycling accessible for children and young people, regardless of their social or economic background. Our goal is to promote both grassroots and competitive cycling, to build a broad foundation while also offering targeted support to young talents. Especially in competitive sport, we strive to provide young athletes with the best possible opportunities for development. At the same time, our focus is not limited to performance alone. We want to ensure that all children and teenagers, no matter where they come from, have access to high-quality programs and support.
Another key goal is to establish modern, safe training environments that meet the needs of young athletes and the demands of competitive cycling. We aim to help them grow their skills while instilling important values such as teamwork, fairness, discipline and respect.
We also want to place greater emphasis on healthy lifestyles and physical fitness. Our focus goes beyond athletic performance. We want to raise awareness among young people about the link between sport and health and to encourage them to stay active on a regular basis.
An equally important aim is to promote sustainable mobility by encouraging young people to use bicycles as a means of everyday transportation.
RIDING UP THAT HILL - To achieve all of this, we believe in the power of a strong community. We rely on a network of athletes, clubs, schools, and parents who support and strengthen youth cycling. At the same time, we are committed to continuously developing as a foundation, building partnerships that help us achieve our goals.
In everything we do, we adhere to the highest standards of foundation management and always act in alignment with our core values.
Our Team
behind GENRIDE
We believe in the positive impact that cycling can have on children and young people. The learning and personal growth that comes through both success and failure, the experience of team spirit and the challenge of relying on oneself.
Roman Arnold
Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Andreas Walzer
Member of the Board of Trustees
Gesine Arnold
Member of the Board of Trustees
Sebastian Heinrich
Executive Board
Jonas Bogler
Cycling Coach
Mathieu van der Poel
Ambassador of the Foundation
Ines Thoma
Ambassador of the Foundation
