The targeted, precise and standardized detection and monitoring programme is possible thanks to the UCI’s partnership with Wahoo Fitness, a company specialising in smart indoor cycling equipment and accessories.
Wahoo Fitness, the UCI World Cycling Centre’s Official Supplier, has contributed to the UCI Solidarity Programme with the donation of 120 of its KICKR Smart Trainers for 2021-2022 as well as 12 KICKR BIKEs. Equipment has already been shipped to National Federations in America, Africa and Europe as well as to the African Cycling Confederation and the UCI WCC Africa satellite in Paarl, South Africa. More deliveries are planned across these continents plus to National Federations in Asia.
UCI WCC Education and Detection Project Coordinator Jean-Jacques Henry explained that all National Federations (NFs) receiving this equipment used the same programme – Wahoo SYSTM Full Frontal test* – to assess their athletes. The NF coaches send the results to the UCI WCC, where the data is analysed and compared with that of the UCI WCC’s resident athletes.
“First of all this test enables us to assess the riders’ potential. They then do the test several times a year so we can see their progression. The best riders will be invited to a training camp at one of our continental satellite centres and if their talent is confirmed, they will stay as long-term trainees. The very best from these satellites are invited to join our training groups at the UCI WCC in Aigle, Switzerland where they have access to European racing and can prepare for major international competitions.”
Jean-Jacques Henry said that the testing system was particularly interesting to pick up and monitor talent from an early age, between 17 and 19. This is currently the case for African National Federations wishing to prepare their athletes for the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda, the first to be held on the African continent.
He points out that the UCI World Cycling Centre has already successfully unearthed talent thanks to similar testing methods.
“Eritrean Biniam Girmay, who recently won Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Field and a stage of the Giro d’Italia, was detected in 2019 through an obsolete talent identification protocol,” he points out. “This new protocol gives us the opportunity to discover more talent and develop them to UCI WorldTour and UCI Women’s WorldTour level.”
Such a precise and detailed testing programme can only work if implemented correctly, which is why Jean-Jacques Henry is training coaches from the world over to use the Wahoo system. Although not complex, there is a strict process that needs to be carried out correctly for the test to be of use.
The UCI WCC expert has already trained coaches at a course in Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt) during the African Continental Championships in March, at the UCI WCC satellite in Anadia (Portugal) in April and next week travels to Nigeria to train coaches from some of the African National Federations.
*Wahoo SYSTM Full Frontal test (4DP)
This test measures the performance across 4 separate maximal efforts
Neuromuscular Power, 5-seconds SPRINT
Anaerobic capacity, 1-minute high-intensity efforts
Maximal Aerobic Power, 5-minute max effort
Functional Threshold Power, 20-minutes steady effort
Photo: testing using the Wahoo protocol at the UCI WCC satellite in Anadia (Portugal)