Track Selection Criteria for Cycling Ireland Teams and Squadsfor Major International Events

Issued May 2013

Purpose:

The following document is to assist Cycling Ireland in selecting the most suitable riders for major international events such as the European and World championships.

It is also intended to assist riders who wish to be considered for selection by giving them an insight into the criteria that are part of the decision process.

Target:

Cycling Ireland have two primary goals in selecting squads and teams:

  • To achieve results as agreed with funding partners (currently to finish a rider in the top 20% in bunch races and within 10% of the winner’s time in timed events);
  • To grant younger riders (with World / European potential) the experience of participating in a major competitions.

Note:

  • In certain instances, Cycling Ireland may not send a full complement of riders if it believes that there are not enough suitable riders available
  • Some team members may be selected solely to act in a support role.

Rider characteristics:

Irrespective of the category or event type (some or all) of the following characteristics will be considered when selecting members of national teams or squads:

  • Commitment to Cycling Ireland and the UCI anti-doping policies including completion of UCI True Champion or Cheat programme;
  • Agreement to Cycling Ireland’s Code of Conduct for riders;
  • The profile of the rider, their ability to form part of a team and their interaction with Cycling Ireland support personnel;
  • International and National race performances in comparable events and UCI ranking (where applicable). Further guidance on suitable performances for specific events and categories is given below. Please note these performance are purely a guidance and do not automatically guarantee selection;
  • Fitness test results (further guidance on typical testing results for specific categories is given below);
  • The age and development potential of the rider;
  • Tactical awareness and skill levels of the riders;
  • Familiarity with indoor track racing, and;
  • Commitment to national team training sessions.

All national team selections will be discretionary and based upon the judgement of the selectors. The selectors may seek expert opinion from specific personnel where necessary.

Riders should keep the HPD (currently Geoff Liffey, Acting HPD – ) informed of their results and general progress (e.g., illness, injury, form etc.) on a regular basis.

Selected athletes will be expected to make themselves available if requested for physiological testing and/or medical assessment to assist in the selection process or in between the selection date and the nominated event as deemed necessary by Cycling Ireland. This is to confirm fitness following injury, illness or a period of under-performance. Cycling Ireland will decide all physiological testing protocols. Please note that in general road race selections will be based upon race results, physiological test results are merely a guideline to give riders an indication of the level required.

To represent Cycling Ireland as part of the national team, each rider shall:

  • Hold a valid international racing license issued by a National federation affiliated to the UCI with “IRL” designation, and;
  • Be in possession of a valid Irish passport (to be a squad member a rider must demonstrate their eligibility to hold an Irish passport).

It is intended to select teams as far as possible in advance to allow them the maximum time to prepare specifically for the event. All team selections will be notified in advance of publication of the team or squad.

Cycling Ireland operate a formal appeals procedure for challenging selection decisions which can found on the Cycling Ireland website or by contacting the office.

Selectors

Selectors for the various teams and squads will typically consist of the appointed Development Coach and another person. The listing of the selectors is available from the Cycling Ireland office.

Guidance Notes on Suitable Performances and Suitable Fitness Test Results

Junior Men – Track (endurance) / Junior Men – Track (sprint)
Standing start 1 km < 1:10 / Flying 200 metre < 10.9 seconds
Standing Start 1Km < 1:10
3km individual pursuit < 3:35 / 10 second maximum sprint > 1,200 watts
Fitness index of >22.5, maximum power to weight ratio > 6 w/kg / Top 12 in a British Cycling’s National Sprinters Seriesevent(juniors compete in the senior series)
Top 10 in a round of British Cycling’s National Omnium Series (juniors compete in the senior series)
Notes:
  • Interested riders should submit results to the Acting HPD
  • Focus will be on results in the preceding eight months
  • These are guideline results, results in other similar standard events will also be considered
  • More emphasis will be placed on results in events with World/European class fields, particularly for riders at the older end of the age range
  • Fitness index is peak 1 minute power applied to the following equation – (watts/(kg^0.667)
  • In the absence of indoor times adjustments can be considered to junior outdoor times as follows:
  • Flying 200 metres - 0.4 seconds;
  • Standing start 500 metres - 1.0 seconds;
  • Standing start 1 km - 1.75 seconds;
  • Standing start 2 km - 3.25 seconds.

Junior Women – Track (endurance) / Junior Women – Track (sprint)
Standing start 500m 40.0 seconds / Flying 200 metres < 12.9 seconds
2 km individual pursuit 2:35 / Standing Start 500m < 39.0 seconds
10 sec max power > 450 watts / 10 second maximum sprint > 800 watts
Fitness index of >19.5, maximum power to weight ratio > 5.1 w/kg / Top 12 in a British Cycling’s National Sprinters Seriesevent(juniors compete in the senior series)
Top 10 in a round of British Cycling’s National Omnium Series(juniors compete in the senior series)
Notes:
  • Interested riders should submit results to the Acting HPD
  • Focus will be on results in the preceding eight months
  • These are guideline results, results in other similar standard events will also be considered
  • More emphasis will be placed on results in events with World/European class fields, particularly for riders at the older end of the age range
  • Fitness index is peak 1 minute power applied to the following equation – (watts/(kg^0.667)
  • In absence of indoor times adjustments can be considered to junior outdoor times as follows:
  • Flying 200 metres - 0.4 seconds;
  • Standing start 500 metres - 1.0 seconds;
  • Standing start 1 km - 1.75 seconds;
  • Standing start 2 km - 3.25 seconds.

Senior Men – Track (endurance) / Senior Men – Track (sprint)
Standing start 1 km <1:10 / 10 second maximum power > 1,400 watts
4 km individual pursuit < 4:35 / Flying 200 metres <10.8 seconds
10 second maximum power > 1,200 watts / Standing start 1 km < 1:07
Fitness index of >26.0, maximum power to weight ratio > 6.7 w/kg
Top 10 in a UCI C1 or C2 event, top 8 in a UCI C3 event
Top 5 in a round of British Cycling’s National Omnium Series / Top 10 in a UCI C1 or C2 event, top 8 in a UCI C3 event
Top 5 in a British Cycling’s National Sprinters Seriesevent
Notes:
  • Interested riders should submit results to the Acting HPD
  • These are guideline results, results in other similar standard events will also be considered
  • More emphasis will be placed on results in events with World/European class fields, particularly for riders at the older end of the age range
  • More emphasis will be placed on foreign results, particularly for riders at the older end of the age category
  • Focus will be on results in the preceding eight months
  • Fitness index is peak 1 minute power applied to the following equation – (watts/(kg^0.667)

Senior Women – Track (endurance) / Senior Women – Track (sprint)
10 second maximum sprint > 600 watts / 10 second maximum sprint > 900 watts
3 km individual pursuit < 3:48 / Flying 200 metres < 12.7 seconds
Fitness index of >23.0, maximum power to weight ratio > 5.6 w/kg / Standing Start 500m < 38.5 seconds
Top 10 in a UCI C1 or C2 event, top 8 in a UCI C3 event
Top 5 in a round of British Cycling’s National Omnium Series
Fitness index of >23.0
Top 10 in a UCI C1 or C2 event, top 8 in a UCI C3 event
Top 5 in a British Cycling’s National Sprinters Seriesevent
Notes:
  • Interested riders should submit results to the Acting HPD
  • Focus will be on results in the preceding eight months
  • These are guideline results, results in other similar standard events will also be considered
  • More emphasis will be placed on results in events with World/European class fields, particularly for riders at the older end of the age range
  • More emphasis will be placed on foreign results, particularly for riders at the older end of the age category
  • Fitness index is peak 1 minute power applied to the following equation – (watts/(kg^0.667)

For testing protocol please contact Brian Nugent –

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