Training at the World Cycling Centre
The World Cycling Centre (WCC) on the eastern side of Lake Geneva in Aigle, Switzerland, is where most UCI departments and activities are based. The Training and Development Department, managed by Frederic Magne, is based full-time at this facility, and is fortunate to have access to some of the best training facilities in the world. These include an indoor wooden 200m track, a purpose-built gymnasium, rest and recuperation facilities including good quality food that is readily available, an outdoor BMX track, purpose-built equipment storage for athletes and staff, and a fully equipped workshop with full-time mechanics on site. It provides an exceptional working environment for coaches and athletes.
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| UCI headquarters Aigle |
Figure 1. The UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle, Switzerland
The aim of the World Cycling Centre is to help develop talented young athletes and coaches from around the world, particularly nations that have underdeveloped support structures in place for cycling. Athletes may be aiming to either be the first person from their country to participate in major competitions, or to reach the pinnacle of being World or Olympic Champion. Athletes from the Training and Development Department come from three groups:
(1) Up-and-coming athletes from developing countries, where the country does not have the facilities or resources in place to support their needs,
(2) Athletes placed at the World Cycling Centre when their National Federations have the funds but do not have the facilities or coaching support to facilitate their development
Privately-funded talented athletes, who are on the verge of breaking into their National team but need more structure and consistent training before they show their true potential.
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| Richard Wooles supervising a coaching session |
Figure 2. Athletes from the WCC warming up at a Track World Cup, with Coach Richard Wooles
One of the advantages of life at the WCC is the structured, cycling-focused lifestyle. A typical day for a trainee starts by 7:00am, with breakfast followed by departure from their residence which is a short (2km) ride to the WCC. This can be a pleasant ride in the summer, or a not so pleasant one come winter. Lessons begin with a language class, from 7:50am to 9:30am, followed by training from 10:00am until 12:00, then a two-hour recovery period, and training again from 14:00 to 17:00.
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| A printout of a warm up |
Figure 3. A sample SRM file from a track training session at the WCC, showing the warmup with 4 x 5 minute efforts with sprints.
Each athlete has goals to achieve within a certain time period. These goals are set by the athlete together with the coaching staff when they arrive at the WCC, and are finalised by the Department Manager. Training is structured to accommodate these goals, while training as part of a group. This gives an added advantage of being in a training group with like-minded athletes. Each athlete is given their training plan by Friday of the preceeding week, so time is available to discuss it before Monday if needed. Training sessions include specific track work, general road conditioning, specific road training, and weight training. A key area for the sprint group is the gym work, but all athletes have a use at some time for the gym. All sessions are run by the coaching staff here at the WCC, and this is where the most benefit can be gained with the hands-on coaching.
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| Present and future champions |
Figure 4. Athletes from the WCC in training on the track.
The Training and Development program has been running for four years, and currently provides support for track, road, BMX, and mountain bike cyclists. Athletes from the program have achieved success at Junior and Senior levels, including World Championships, and we hope to support many more athletes and coaching staff with their development.
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| The system is working. Success at world championships |
Figure 5. Lizandra Guerra from Cuba, who trains at the WCC, double Junior World Champion in 2005 (500m TT and Women’s Sprint)
