Sixteen cycling coaches from 14 countries have just completed the UCI Level 3 coaching diploma at the UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) in Aigle, Switzerland.
Delivered both in the classroom and through practical sessions, the subjects covered on the three-week course are wide-ranging, giving coaches knowledge, techniques and insights to help them guide their athletes to the highest possible level. Sessions have been led by UCI staff and external experts, including Bent Rønnestad, Professor at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences; Richard Cheetham, Senior Fellow in Sports Coaching at the University of Winchester, United Kingdom; and Grégoire Millet, Professor of Exercise and Environmental Physiology at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Since the beginning of April, the coaches at the UCI WCC have delved into the intricacies of (among others):
physiology, including the role of oxygen, energy and lactate metabolisms and altitude training
talent identification and athlete development
performance testing
nutrition
mental health and mental training
integrity, including anti-doping
different aspects of delivering individualized training sessions including interval training, coaching practices, strength and conditioning and training load management
Most of the course participants are already working as coaches and/or have obtained UCI Level 1 and 2 certification. Many were, or still are, competitive athletes, such as Thailand’s Jutatip Maneephan, who missed the first days of this month’s coaching course as it clashed with the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's Cup Women's Tour of Thailand, which she won after taking victory in all three stages.
Also crowned Asian Champion in the road race this year, the 37-year-old is nevertheless looking ahead to her career post-competition.
“I have been cycling since I was 12 years old, and now I am thinking about the next step of my career. I want to help young Thai athletes and try to close the gap between them and other riders from Asia and Europe.
“This course has been very interesting and useful, and I am learning a lot, both during the sessions and from the other participants who are already coaches. I ask them a lot of questions about their work!”
The three-week coaching course is not her first connection with the UCI WCC: at the age of 19, and again at 21, she was one of the centre’s track trainees before converting to the road.
Another former UCI WCC trainee on the course was Suriname’s Jaïr Tjon En Fa, who spent six years as part of the centre’s track group and has remained in Aigle since competing in the sprint and keirin at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Other course participants come from countries across the five continents: Argentina, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Colombia, France, Eswatini, Chinese Taipei, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Venezuela.
The UCI WCC Coach Development Programme is divided into three levels. The Level 1 online coaching course is the first step in the UCI WCC coaching pathway. Level 2 (courses organised at the UCI WCC or elsewhere in the world) is aimed at new coaches who have completed Level 1 and those working with young or developing riders. The Level 3 diploma course is for experienced coaches working with national-level riders and can only be completed at the UCI WCC in Switzerland. In addition, a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) has recently been developed in close collaboration with the University of Lausanne to allow coaches the chance to obtain an academic degree.