The fourth annual cyclo-cross development camp at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland, took place from June 24 to 27.
Aged between 16 and 23, 14 cyclo-cross specialists from eight countries drilled techniques so important to the off-road discipline: bunny-hops, sand riding, cornering, off-camber turns, bunch starts…The skills sessions were complemented by pre-breakfast conditioning training, long endurance road rides and evening lessons in the classroom.
The up-coming generation of cyclo-cross athletes once again benefitted from the expertise and advice of Geoff Proctor, Head Coach of the US Cyclo-cross Development Programme.
“We break the sport down into all its different components and work on them individually. We teach the skills and then drill those skills,” says Proctor.
Swedish athletes Jonatan Östlund (18) and Ted Petersson (17) found the 2014 camp so useful they came back for more.
The elder of the two embarks on his first season in the U-23 category: “I only started racing cyclo-cross two years ago so I’m still learning a lot. I definitely improved after last year’s camp and this year again we are learning from each other and trying out new stuff. It makes you feel more secure.”
Petersson agreed that training with other Junior riders encouraged him to “go that bit further and push back the barriers.”
Argentina’s Carolina Gomez Villafane, 23, found the skills sessions particularly useful and hopes that her new-found confidence will help her improve on her 39th place in the 2015 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Tabor, Czech Republic.
Slovakian National Champion in the cadets, 16-year-old Radka Rabatinova dreams of competing in some UCI World Cups or the new Youth category at the next UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships.
“I have learned a lot here,” she said. “The bunny hops, starts, everything…. And it is so much fun!”
UCI World Cycling Centre Director Frédéric Magné said that the development training camp aimed to further grow the discipline which continues to increase in popularity worldwide: “Athletes as young as 16 came from eight countries for this training camp, which shows the National Federations’ desire to nurture their up and coming talent.
“The grounding they receive from Geoff Proctor in just a few days will help them throughout the rest of their cycling careers,” he concluded.