The Women’s Commission have recently revised their Development Programme. While the bones of it is the same – with a strong emphasis on coaching and skills, there have been a few amendments which make it more inclusive, on one hand, but on the other hand there is a tightened criteria regarding selection for Irish Development Teams.

 Women’s Development Programme

This is a programme of racing and training run by the Women’s Commission of Cycling Ireland. The programme places a major emphasis on coaching and training principles. Throughout the year we run regular training days which focus on the various different aspects of bike training that are crucial for any rider who wants to achieve their potential.

At the training days we have guest speakers who specialise in different areas of sport, and we hope to broaden the knowledge of all the riders.

Aim:

To help riders reach their full potential, by setting in place a structure of training and racing. We hope to motivate and guide riders, and our ultimate aim is to have a system that can produce future Olympians and World Standard Riders.

We place an importance on enjoyment in the programme, with the training camps conducted in a relaxed way, incorporating fun activities and encouraging group interaction.

Development Programme:

1. Our programme consists of training camps which will be held at strategic intervals throughout the year, from October to August.
2. Our training camps are fully coached, and we have guest speakers who are experts in various different areas of sport, educating and advising the riders.
3. We recommend a calendar of racing that will optimise the time available to the domestic rider.
4. We recommend racing in Belgium for those riders who wish to improve their skills, and would like to progress to the next level in Women’s Cycling.
5. We identify specific suitable races in Belgium, and subsidise accommodation in the Sean Kelly House for riders who travel over.
6. We select Irish Development Teams to race in identified key races.

 Development Teams:

1. Development Teams can be made up of Senior and/or Junior riders.
2. Development Teams will be selected 3-6 weeks prior to the event. The events that will be used as part of the selection process will be named in advance of selection being made.
3. Riders who wish to be selected on Development Teams must attend Training Camps organised by the Women’s Commission.
4. Riders who wish to be selected on Development Teams must race in Belgium during the season.
5. Development Teams will only race if at least three riders fulfil the criteria.

Explanation:

The reason we place an importance on the attendance at Training Camps is that we need to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of the skills that we are teaching through our Development Programme.

The reason we place an importance on Racing in Belgium is because the racing overseas is very different to racing at home, as the races consist of up to 100 female riders, and this exposure is crucial for the rider to improve their skills and equip themselves better for Races as a Development Team.

These races are also an opportunity for riders to demonstrate their ability to managers of foreign club and professional women’s teams and we hope that this route will be a pathway to entry to these clubs and teams world class competition for riders with the ability to perform at this level.

In simple language riders will be given the opportunity to make a name for themselves by demonstrating their ability and character in these races.

If you have any queries contact queries@womenscycling.ie