2014-15 PARA-CYCLING PROGRAM By Arnaud Litou, Sébastien Travers, Éric VanDenEynde and Andy Wilson Issued & Effective from January 1st, 2014 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, or changes to the international calendar, etc. 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2 2.0 High Performance Program ............................................................................................................ 3 3.0 Development Program .................................................................................................................... 5 4.0 Development Agent Program ......................................................................................................... 7 5.0 Selection to Para Training Camps & International Events .............................................................. 7 6.0 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 7 1 2014 Para-cycling Program | Cycling CANADA 1.0 Introduction With a successful 2013 season, the Canadian Para-cycling program will be trying to perform at its best again in 2014. The main highlight for next season will be the start of the qualification process towards Rio 2016. The 2014 Road World Championships will be the first event where Nations will fight for UCI points and perform to get athletes qualified for the Games. With 2014 being the start of the qualification process, the focus will start moving from Development to High Performance. The A National Team Standards will now be based on the Bronze medal performances of the previous year, assuring Tier 1 athletes the desired level of performance. We will also be adding a B National Team standard which is aimed at Tier 2 and Tier 3 athletes who want to qualify for International Events and also add a Development National Team Standard for upcoming athletes. With the start of the qualification process comes the prioritization of services for tiered athletes. Upon the Own The Podium budget, we are being asked to trickle down services and access to races from Tier 1 to 3. This includes IST services, training camps and races. In 2014, we will continue our development initiative in order to find rising stars that could potentially compete at the 2016 or 2020 Games. We will be able to test athletes through the National Team talent identifications (TIDs), or through provincial initiatives with the help of our talent development officers. With the Gold Medal Standard being put in place in 2014-15, we should be able to reinforce our TID strategy to find «fast track» athletes who could compete at the 2016 Rio Games. We intend to continue mentoring with provincial team coaches by bringing them to National Team training camps, races or TID camps. 2014 will mark the opening of 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 2014, we will continue to improve our IST use, both during National Team projects and directly with targeted athletes. By developing a National Team program that targets both HP and Dev, we will be able to: Expose and develop athletes through international competitions; Continue IST assessments with targeted athletes; Identify and develop new athletes; Provide mentoring opportunities for coaches; Have all provinces/regions represented at Road Nationals. This document details the objectives for the 2014-15 Para-cycling season. It should allow for easy reference. Documents to be consulted simultaneously include the National Team Program calendars and selection policies. These can all be found on the Cycling Canada website at: http://www.cyclingcanada.ca/para-cycling/national-team/program-policies/ 2 2014 Para-cycling Program | Cycling CANADA 2.0 High Performance Program As we fall into the Paralympic qualification process (2 years out) we will need to deploy our athletes into all international events. Being able to have three World Cups that are not part of the qualification process in 2014 allows us to learn to race under the pressure of performing. We will be able to bring Tier 1 athletes to World Cups to test different parameters. We will also need to keep Tier 2/3 and development athletes active at International events so that we can guaranty Top 10 performances at Road Worlds. Details on the High Performance (HP) program The objectives of the 2014-15 HP program will be: To expose Tier 1 athletes to all international events (World Cups and Worlds) in order to develop racing skills o Having 2nd priority World Cups will allow athlete to learn to race under pressure of performing, which will allow the athlete to really test strategies and the general approach; To expose Tier 2 athletes to some international events in order to develop racing skills o Having a World Cup on home soil the week before Worlds will allow athletes to refine their preparation in order to be ready for Worlds To reinforce Top 10 performances for Tier 2-3 athletes at Road Worlds The main goals of the 2014-15 programs will be: To remain Top 5 in the Nation standings Increase the # of podiums at World Championships to 12 To maximize Top 10 performances at Road Worlds COMPETITION & CAMP CALENDAR: The High Performance Para Season is comprised of the following main competition and camps: May 5-12, 2014 – World Cup #1 – Castilglione del Pescaia, ITA June 26-27, 2014 – Canadian Road Championships – Lac-Mégantic CAN July 6-14, 2014 – World Cup #2 – Segovia ESP Aug. 19-24, 2014 – World Cup #3 – Montréal CAN Aug. 25 to Sept. 1, 2014 – Road World Championships – Greenville USA Oct. 22 to 24, 2014 – Canadian Track Championships – Milton CAN Winter 2015 – Track World Championships – Location TBC Training camps: Mar. 10-24, 2014 – Altitude Training Camp #1 – Flagstaff USA June 29 to July 5, 2014 – Segovia WC Training Camp – Bromont, CAN Aug. 3-10, 2014 – Road Worlds Training Camp #1 – Bromont CAN Aug. 11-18, 2014 – Road Worlds Training Camp #2 – Bromont CAN 3 2014 Para-cycling Program | Cycling CANADA October, 2014 – Altitude Training Camp #2 – Flagstaff USA – TBC Winter 2015 – Track Worlds Training Camp - TBC 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. 2014 will mark the debut of Altitude Training Camps, with the first one being held in Flagstaff Arizona (USA). This camp will happen six weeks before the first World Cup and has two major objectives: 1- Monitor and assess how our athletes react to altitude training; 2- Optimize training and trainability through Altitude training. APRIL TO JULY 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. 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 we did last year, athletes will come to Bromont to train with the National Team coaches on a self-funded basis. Since we don’t have a lot of races during the season (especially for H and T athletes), we find that face-to-face training allows us to better their performance level, even if they are not racing for a long period of time. AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER FOCUS: Final preparation for Road World Championships As of August, the focus will entirely shift towards World Championship preparation. The coaches will work closely with all selected athletes in order to create the best performance environment. As we did last year, the final training camp leading to the World Cup Final and World Championships will be divided in to two groups, with the Hs and the Ts on the first week and the Bs and the Cs on 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. 4 2014 Para-cycling Program | Cycling CANADA 3.0 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Cycling Canada’s focus for Para-cycling is to identify athletes who show promise to become competitive on the international scene. The main target will be on the development of para- cycling within the Canadian provinces and territories, led by the provincial & territorial cycling associations (P/TSO). Cycling Canada is looking at partnering to combine energies for the best of the Canadian Athletes with a Disability (AWAD). With the help of P/TSOs, we intend to continue our TIDs 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 TIDs, therefore strengthening our development strategy. Cycling