Becoming a professional cyclist

[Wiggins_fan]

I've had this question in mind for this forum for a while now. I'm sure many of you have or have had a dream of becoming a professional cyclist.

My question to you is: How do you become one?

Yes, train on your bike for 8 hours all day everyday.

Talent - How much of a factor is it? Are some of us borned with a really strong motor and others weak motors? Are some of us genetically unfit to become one? Or does it come down to hard work and perseverance in training?

If a guy like Wiggo can become a professional I'm sure everyone can.

Please share your experiences and unquestionable wisdom

 

[Izzy eviel]

How old are you?

There's probably a few cycling clubs near you, join one and see how it goes.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Talent = super mega important

Last year I trained 1.30 hours and occasionally 3 hours on wednesdays. I didn'te have a winter at all because of exams (started training the 7th of februari, first race 15th of march) and I could attack and make the race really hard. Most junior guys train 4 - 6 hours +. I know some guys that train 7 hours in february and I was better than them...
If I talked about my training with tourists that had family(sons etc) that raced they were all awed it was pretty funny

So you'll need time, talent and some willpower and knowing someone that sponsors a pro team also helps I think

 

[Monte Zoncolon]

I've had this question in mind for this forum for a while now. I'm sure many of you have or have had a dream of becoming a professional cyclist.

My question to you is: How do you become one?

Yes, train on your bike for 8 hours all day everyday.

Talent - How much of a factor is it? Are some of us borned with a really strong motor and others weak motors? Are some of us genetically unfit to become one? Or does it come down to hard work and perseverance in training?

If a guy like Wiggo can become a professional I'm sure everyone can.

Please share your experiences and unquestionable wisdom

I personally Know two People who went to Europe in the late 1990's to sign contract's for a Professional Cycling Career. They worked extremely hard to get to this point of their lives. I know this is a doping free forum. But as part of their contract they were told that they needed to take performance enhancing drugs if they were to have any chance to be competitive in the peleton. They refused their contract's after Year's of hard work because they did not like the idea of doping. They flew straight back home on the next flight out of the country. Their dream became a nightmare. That is a fact and has happened many times to other Cyclists.

But thing's have now changed. In regard's to systematic doping practices.

 

[erader]

I've had this question in mind for this forum for a while now. I'm sure many of you have or have had a dream of becoming a professional cyclist.

My question to you is: How do you become one?

Yes, train on your bike for 8 hours all day everyday.

Talent - How much of a factor is it? Are some of us borned with a really strong motor and others weak motors? Are some of us genetically unfit to become one? Or does it come down to hard work and perseverance in training?

If a guy like Wiggo can become a professional I'm sure everyone can.

Please share your experiences and unquestionable wisdom

ha ha ha! i'm no wiggins fan but the guy is a mutant. are you trolling?

erader

 

[Ibanez]

Talent is extremely important. Everybody has a genetic ceiling, and some are higher then others. At the top levels of the sport, everybody is at that ceiling, so if it isn't high enough, you aren't going to be getting a job. The guys at the tour, even those finishing last, really are the very best.

Only one way to find out though, and that's to start training. A lot.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Winning

Lots of regional/national wins required. That takes quite a bit of time and money to accomplish.

'Talent' is too vague a word used to describe lots of individuals, some of whom will tell you their only talent is the ability to work hard earning the skill levels required as compared to their fellow competitors.

If someone is good enough to get wins nationally, then get there with one eye on transitioning out of the lifestyle and the other eye on the task at hand.

 

[fatandfast]

you have to play by the rules that are already in place..What are your district TT and RR results? Using your computer and every social media you can.. find out where all the OTC camps are .Call USAC and find out if there is a coach near you. If you see 1 of the developemnt coaches at a track or race you can show them your skills. If you travel to a race to be observed by a coach and win they will give you a second look. You should try and facebook friend every guy in the Belgian houses and ask for advice..what did they do to get picked up by the USAC devolpment squads.. Big clubs have many memebers w different shapes and sizes and cash flow. They may have a program to pay for some big races,,Bisbee,Gila,Redlands..If you think you are going good already go to Superweek..Cantwell has won 2 out of the last 3 years..he knows what fast people look like..attack him a couple of times during the race and then after go up and tell him you need a plan/help getting on track. The OTC camps and the USAC are the easist places to start..they have a data base of results so when you call w your license# they are going to know how fast you are generally..The best practice is to start eating ramen soup and rice,noodles and Taco Bell..you wouldn't want the pro diet to be a shock to your system..eat pancakes in the am..not because they are good but because they costs pennies to make..you will thank me later* the ADC camp price is 750.00 usd..you have to be 14 yo by the start of the camp..no dates posted

 

[galaxy1]

w.r.t. talent and training:
most people are simply not capable of sustaining pro level training volume (ignoring speed for a moment) without illness and injury.

pro cycling is very self selecting for this reason.

 

[flicker]

ha ha ha! i'm no wiggins fan but the guy is a mutant. are you trolling?

erader

any world class pursuiter is a mutant.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

any world class pursuiter is a mutant.

So is Lance

 

[humboldtcomeback]

the idea that someone can 'transform into or become' a pro is sort of the wrong way to think about it. its more like that there is a pro inside of you and you have to bring it out. like a sculptor and a stone. and then that being needs to be brutally scrutinized.

i was a div3-pro @ 19 years old - i know this doesn't mean much but it does place me on the inside rather than the outside.

i won my 1st junior race on a bike with downtube shifters vs. dura-ace bikes. i would beat up on older riders who were cat 1 & 2 when i was still a junior-5. Plus ++ I have a natural inclination for cycling tactics - most other riders do not: they are fodder. in pro races @ 19 y.o. i was the fodder for the older riders. experienced pros are the most cunning, tricky, mentally perfect beings i've ever been around.

lately i've seen some older riders get good late-in-life but they were some guys who came from other sports and were dominant in those.

i think most new cycling folks with their power meters, etc., do not understand that really the mentality of the rider is what makes them a pro or not. some pros (and i was one of them) were always waiting for this perfect moment (that wouldn't come often for me) where we were win solo by overpowering everyone with the perfect timing. once you've done this, its like heroin. you've got to go back for more. you want to dominate-perfectly. where all of the other riders are made to give up/crack and they can't help but let you win. i believe that is the attitude. this sort of athletic transcendence in which all of the work and sacrifices that came in training and racing prior, culminate in a victory. just look at the guys on the tube who win their first TdF stage solo: what that is like for them - is the entire point of their entire career. i suppose for guys like LA its about the money too, but even he has that addiction to winning - why else would he goto such great lengths to win? there is more than one way to make money afterall.

if you do not always have this in the back of your mind: you will not become a pro no matter how many watts you've got, because i'll be on your wheel waiting to crack you psychologically and get my fix and take pleasure in seeing you with your head hung low.

cheers.