PARA-CYCLING PROGRAM

Transcription

1 PARA-CYCLING PROGRAM By Sébastien Travers, Éric VanDenEynde, Arnaud Litou and Andy Wilson Issued & Effective from Dec.08, 2014 PLEASE NOTE: ALL PROGRAMMING IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE The purpose of this document is to provide insight on National Team planning for the upcoming Para-cycling season. It is important to note that programming may change at any time due to financial circumstances, staffing, changes to the international racing calendar, etc.

2 1.0 INTRODUCTION In 2015, the Canadian Para-cycling program will build on the success of the last two seasons. The main theme for next season will be continuing on with the qualification process towards Rio The 2016 track World Championships will be the last event where Nations will fight for UCI points and perform to get athletes qualified for the Games. With 2015 being part of the qualification process, the National Team Program focus will start narrowing to medal contenders, top-5 finishers and these performing in the top 10 on the international scene. The A National Team Standards will again be based on the Bronze medal performances at the 2014 road world championships, assuring Tier 1 and 2 athletes the desired level of performance. We will also be adding a B National Team standard which is aimed at Tier 3 athletes who want to qualify for International Events and also add a Development National Team Standard for upcoming athletes. With the continuing qualification process Cycling Canada will re-evaluate the prioritization of services for tiered athletes. Under the funding priorities established by Own the Podium, we will continue to focus services and access to races to Tier 1 to 3 athletes. This includes sport science (IST) services, training camps and races. In 2015, we will continue our development initiative in order to find rising stars with the potential to compete at the 2016 or 2020 Games. We will test athletes through the National Development & Talent ID initiatives (TIDs), and through provincial initiatives, with the help of our talent development officers. With the development of the Podium Pathway in its final stages we will be able to reinforce our talent ID strategy to find athletes who can be Fast-tracked in order to be competitive at the 2016 Rio Games. We intend to continue mentoring provincial team coaches by bringing them to National Team training camps, races or TID camps. Athlete development will also be conducted through new Next Gen programs created in partnership with Own the Podium, the Canadian Paralympic Committee & P/TSOs. The following Canadian Sport Institutes will collaborate in hosting cycling Next Gen programs: Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (CSI-P) Western regional Hub Institut National Du Sport du Québec (INS) Eastern regional Hub Canadian Sport Institute Ontario Milton Track NT centre These programs will provide an opportunity for full-time Development coaches to work with able-bodied and Para athletes (CSI-P & CSI-O) and full time with Para athletes (INS). This will allow CC to manage ongoing recruitment initiatives throughout the country, to provide better coaching support for upcoming athletes, and to identify and Support Fast-Tracked athletes. As a domino effect it allows the NT coaches to focus on the High performance National Team athletes and increase their face time to optimize the athletes preparation on and off the bike in order to achieve their best potential will mark the beginning of full access to the Milton velodrome. Having access to this facility one week per month (TBC) will allow our athletes more face-to-face training with their coaches; especially for athletes that are now specializing on Track events. Finally, in 2015, we will continue to improve our use of IST services, both during National Team projects and directly with targeted athletes. Version updated on 10/12/2014 Page 2 of 7

3 By developing a National Team program that targets both HP and Dev, we will be able to: Develop athletes through exposure to international competitions; Continue IST assessments with targeted athletes; Identify and develop new athletes; Provide mentoring opportunities for coaches; Have more provinces/regions represented at Road Nationals. This document details the objectives for the Para-cycling season. It should allow for easy reference. Other documents to be consulted in conjunction include the National Team Program calendars and selection policies. These can all be found on the Cycling Canada website at: High Performance Program As we continue the Paralympic qualification process we will need to deploy our athletes to all international events. With four World cups in 2015, and three being held in Europe, we will have to be strategic in selecting athletes to these events while considering that only the best European World Cup result will count towards the 2016 Rio Paralympics qualification. Selections will be made taking into consideration the busy months of June, July and August (including 3 WC s, Road worlds and the Toronto Para Pan-American games). We will be able to bring Tier 1 & 2 athletes to World Cups to perform on demand. We will also need to keep Tier 3 and development athletes active at International events so that we can continue to guarantee Top-10 performances. Details on the High Performance (HP) program The objectives of the HP program will be: For Tier 1 & 2 athletes to attend international events (World Cups and Worlds) in order to develop racing skills o To reach podium performances o To allow athletes to learn to race under pressure of performing on demand at European World Cups; thus allowing the athletes to really test strategies and the general approach; To expose Tier 3 athletes to some international events in order to develop racing skills To reinforce Top-5 & Top-10 performances for Tier 2-3 athletes at Road Worlds The main goals of the programs will be: To get back into the Top 5 in the UCI Nations rankings To Increase the number of podium finishes at World Championships to 8 To maximize Top-10 performances at World Cups & Road Worlds Version updated on 10/12/2014 Page 3 of 7

4 COMPETITION & CAMP CALENDAR: The High Performance Para Season is comprised of the following main competitions and camps: May 30 -June 7, 2015 World Cup #1 Maniago, ITA June 8-16, 2015 World Cup #2 Yverdon-les-Bains, SUI June 26-28, 2015 Canadian Road Championships St George de Beauce, CAN July 18-26, 2015 World Cup #3 Elzach, GER July 27 - Aug. 2, 2015 Road World Championships Notwill, SUI Aug. 8-13, 2015 Para Pan-American Games Toronto, CAN Oct Canadian Track Championships Milton, CAN February 2016 Track World Championships Pietermaritzburg, RSA Training camps: Mar. 1-10, 2015 Training Camp #1 Gainesville, FL USA Mar , 2015 Track Training camp #1 Milton CAN Mar , 2015 Track training camp #2 Apeldoorn NED Mar , 2015 Road Training camp #1 Gainesville, FL USA April 27-30, 2015 Challenge Longhi & Defi Sportif camp Bromont/Montreal CAN July 11-20, 2015 Road Worlds Training Camp Bromont CAN January 2016 Track Worlds Training Camp #1 Milton CAN February 2016 Track Worlds Training camp #2 Anadia POR JANUARY TO MARCH FOCUS: Specific preparation and Training Camp #1 This is the period when the Canadian Para athletes are in the specific preparation phase of their Yearly Training Plans (YTPs). It is up to them and their coaches to make sure that they are doing all they can to be ready for the first events. The March camp will happen four weeks before the first 2015 events in Montreal. The March camps will be only partially funded. APRIL TO JUNE FOCUS: Training and racing The Para-cycling program will be present at all Word Cups during this period (2). Athletes should also have the opportunity of integrating their PSO s able-bodied racing calendar. Whenever possible athletes should be able to use these racing opportunities to refine their skills and work on their technical/tactical capacities. IST Staff should be on-site for major events in order to evaluate and assess these skills to better prepare for Road Worlds. As was the case last year, athletes will relocate to Bromont to train with the National Team coaches on a selffunded basis. Since there are not many races during the season (especially for H and T athletes), it has been proven that face time training with national coaches allows us to better improve performance levels, even if athletes are not racing for a long period of time. Version updated on 10/12/2014 Page 4 of 7

5 JULY TO SEPTEMBER FOCUS: Final preparation for Road World Championships & Para Pan-American Games and WC#4 In July the focus will shift entirely towards World Championship preparation. The coaches will work closely with all selected athletes in order to create the best performance environment. As was the case last year, the final training camp leading to the World Cup Final and World Championships will be scheduled, with the H s and the T s in the first week, and the B s and the C s in the second week. Having had the experience of back to back events in 2013, the National Team coaches may ask some riders to only attend Road Worlds and skip the final World Cup in order to optimize their performances; especially since the WC#3 finishes 2 days prior to Road worlds. Following road worlds a selection of 9 to 12 athletes will attend the 2015 Para Pan-American Games where podium performances will be targeted. It will be the last opportunity to collect the last UCI road points towards Rio qualification and get exposure on home soil. 3.0 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Cycling Canada s focus for Para-cycling is to identify athletes who show potential to become competitive on the international scene. The main target will be on the development of para- cycling within the Canadian provinces and territories. This initiative will be led by Next Gen cycling programs and the provincial & territorial cycling associations (P/TSOs). Cycling Canada is looking at these partnerships in order to best develop the next generation of Canadian Athletes with a Disability (AWAD). With the help of P/TSOs, we intend to continue our Talent Identification initiatives throughout Canada, trying to find new athletes or encourage established athletes to transfer from other Para sports. We have already partnered up with Para-Triathlon and Para-Rowing to facilitate transfer from one sport to the other. We will also be partnering for TID initiatives with these aforementioned sports, therefore strengthening our development strategy. Cycling Canada will continue with Development Camps throughout the country. This will allow us to meet with athletes who have been identified and help them prepare for Nationals. This will also reinforce our relationships with PSOs. Coach mentoring will also be part of these camps, so we intend to have all of our Talent development officers as well as provincial coaches on-site. A multisport pilot project in 2014 has also led the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and Cycling Canada to work on a Para specific multisport initiatives for Details on the Development Program The objectives of the program will be: To provide training and camp opportunities to identified emerging athletes in Canada; To support P/TSOs in their recruitment campaign s, both with athletes and coaches; To support P/TSOs in their integration of Para athletes in their able-bodied calendars The main goals of the program will be: To develop new athletes who have the potential to achieve Top 10 performances at Road World Championships; Identify new athletes and develop them through 2020 Version updated on 10/12/2014 Page 5 of 7

6 COMPETITION & CAMP CALENDAR: The Development athletes season is comprised of the following main competitions: May 1, 2015 Challenge Longhi Montreal, CAN May 2 & 3, 2015 Defi Sportif Alter Go Montreal, CAN May 30- June 16, 2015 WC#1 & 2 ITALY & SWITZERLAND June 26-27, 2014 Canadian Road Championships St George de Beauce, CAN Aug. 8-13, 2015 Para Pan-American Games Toronto, CAN Oct Canadian Track Championships Milton, CAN Training camps and TIDs: Jan. 30-Feb 1, 2015 DEV & TID camp Dieppe, NB April 6-9, 2015 Multisport DEV/TID camp Canmore & Ottawa, CAN April 6-10, 2015 DEV & TID camp Milton, ON April 27-30, 2015 DEV camp Bromont & Montreal, QC TBC DEV/TID Camp Burnaby & Victoria, BC July 11-20, 2015 Road Worlds Training Camp #1 Bromont CAN Sept., 2015 Multisport DEV & TID Camp Edmonton, AB October, 2015 Track DEV & TID camp Milton, ON JANUARY TO JUNE FOCUS: Physical preparation and Talent Identification We will be conducting 2 TID sessions in order to find new potential athletes. Once identified, and with the help of Next Gen cycling coaches and local coaches, we will assist with training and physical preparation. Athletes identified in TIDs will then be invited to Development camps, which will focus on helping them reach their best performances in events on home soil; whether it is in local racing integration or specific para events. That is why we will suggest that fast track athletes should attend selection events such as Challenge Longhi & Défi Sportif in Montréal and/or the Canadian Road Championships in St-George-de-Beauce. By doing DEV/TIDs throughout the country and identifying fast track athletes, we expect this year again a rise in attendance of para-cyclists at Canadian championships. JUNE TO SEPTEMBER FOCUS: Road competition During the second half of the season, we will focus mainly on new athletes (and their coaches) being selected for the World Cup and/or World Championships by helping them with their final preparation. SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER FOCUS: Talent Identification and Talent Development Fall will be another period of active recruitment and development, continuing with DEV / TID camps. We will organize a development camp right before Canadian Track Championships, in Ontario, to try and find new athletes who could show a potential on track or/and road. Version updated on 10/12/2014 Page 6 of 7

7 4.0 DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS The Cycling Canada Para-cycling Development Officer program is an ongoing initiative in support of the recruitment and development of individuals with a disability, who have shown an interest in Para-cycling. The effort is designed to enhance Para-cycling from Awareness and first contact to Train to Compete identified within the Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) stages, leading to a stronger competitive base in Canada. To this end, Sport Canada has allocated funding to help Cycling Canada promote and deliver programming to People with a Disability (PWAD) at the early levels of performance development. Through this Sport Canada funding, Cycling Canada has established the Para-cycling Development Officer program. This is aimed at supporting initiatives related to increasing sport participation for persons with a disability, in one or more of the following 5 pillars of Para-cycling programming, in order of priority: 1. Athletes coaching support 2. Testing and recruitment 3. Competition 4. Officials and staffing development 5. IST 5.0 SELECTION TO PARA TRAINING CAMPS & INTERNATIONAL EVENTS The selection criteria for track training camps and international projects and events will be posted online at: Specific camp and application details will be made available closer to the start dates. 6.0 CONCLUSION The programs and systems are in place for Canada to become a top cycling nation by World-class performances are within our reach in all cycling programs. Para-cycling has come a long way in the last quadrennial and Cycling Canada aims to build on this foundation and recent success to bring it one step further. The main focus over the next year will be to split between Development programs with Para development officer, Next Gen and High Performance programs to better support athletes to reach the Podium in 2016 or As we progress through the Paralympic cycle, support will target anticipated performers amongst NT athletes as we make our way to the 2016 Paralympics in Rio. We are open to any feedback and suggestions towards improving the Para program and the sport in Canada. If you have any ideas to put forth, please contact the program supervisor at para@cyclingcanada.ca. We appreciate your thoughts on how to better our programs and hope to work in collaboration with our P/TSOs and other affiliated organizations to make para-cycling a gold medal sport in Canada! Version updated on 10/12/2014 Page 7 of 7