1. Cycling Canada Long Term Athlete Development Model Mountain Bike
Canadian sport for life – Spex 240 Brent cameron, Malcolm Ross-Delisle, Tarryn Cote, Rob Fraser

2. Outline LTAD Introduction Cycling MTB LTAD Stages Personal experience
Active start
Fundamentals
Learn to train
Train to train
Train to compete
What does it take to become a champion?
Train to win
Active for Life
Questions
References

3. LTAD Introduction What is LTAD?
LTAD is a guideline
To advocate every child’s healthy and logical development in a sport or physical activity
LTAD model and framework has proved to be the most progressive optimization pathway

4. Cycling MTB LTAD Stages:
READY: Learn to Ride!
ACTIVE START: Basic movement skills, 0-6
START: Love to Ride!
Fundamentals
SKILL: Be a Skill Champion!
Learn to Train
SPEED: Build the Engine!
Train to Train
STRATEGY: Be the Smartest
Train to Compete
SUCCESS: Be a World Champion!
Train to Win

5. Personal experience Periodization
Typical race season is May to September (5-months)
Off-season is comprised of October-April (7-months)
Training is periodized by month-to-month plans
Peaking multiple times per season
In-season training consists of maintenance and recovery
Tarryn personal experience

6. Active Start READY, Learn to Ride!
Age 0-6
30-60 minutes of physical activity
Games that incorporate physical literacy
Basic cycling skills: steering, breaking and balance
Introduce different terrains
Being a role model for an active lifestyle

7. Fundamentals START, Love to Ride!
Age 6-8 F, 6-9 M
Basic cycling skills: Straight line riding, breaking, climbing and descending, cornering, lifts and drops
Physical literacy: object control, balance, agility on land, water and air.
Basics of how a bike works
Taking part in fun & inclusive local races

8. Learn to Train SKILL, Be a Skill Champion!
Ages 9 for females, 10 for males until growth spurt
Develop new skills
Incorporate skills
Seasonal cycling program
Basic race skills and knowledge

9. Train to Train SPEED, Build the Engine!
After growth spurt and/or 3-6 years in cycling
Yearly training program (YTP)
Training 5-6 times per week, with sessions from 1-2 hours
Develop and refine skills
Skill becomes highly developed
Improved race tactics
Compete at a provincial level and gradually to national

10. Train to Compete STRATEGY, Be the smartest!
Athletes train: sport specific and position-specific skills
Athlete goals
Athletes are introduced to proper nutrition, sports psychology, recovery, injury prevention and injury management.
“Be the Smartest!” Slogan “During stage 5, athletes will identify themselves as serious and deliberate competitors. Throughout the calendar year, athletes will be on a training plan where high-volume and high-intensity training are of the main focus as well as periodization training.” (Joan Rickman. 2005)

11. What does it take to become a champion?
Mental
Ability to use your brain to enhance performance
Social
Ability to interact with yourself and others
Physical
Your bodies’ qualities to enhance performance
Technical
Your learned and practiced skills
Life Skills
Ability to navigate daily tasks
Tactical
Ability to execute

12. Train to Win SUCCESS, Be a World Champion!
Elites with 8-10 years + of experience
Pinnacle of athletic development
“Perform on Demand”
Technical and tactical skills are perfected and highly adaptable
Fitness is maintained and carefully monitored

13. Train to Win SUCCESS, Be a World Champion! (cont.)
The three main objectives for the train to win stage are:
Gap Analysis
Earning Success
Life Skills and Balance
“If you want to give your athletes a lasting gift, show them the joy in their sport and the pursuit of improvement. This is what will allow them to put in the long hours required to make it to the top and the drive to cross the finish line first”. -Catherine Pendrel, Canadian National Team/ World Champion

14. Active for Life Enter at any age after growth spurt
Enter any age after growth spurt
Keep riding, ride for fun, an adventure
Life skills and balance in cycling is great
Competitive for life

15. Questions?

16. Reference:
Cycling Canada. (2012) Long Term Athlete Development: Mountain Bike