The second World Congress of Cycling Science takes place on 2 and 3 July 2014, providing an opportunity for coaches to gain an insight into the cutting edge ideas within the sport.
British Cycling coaches receive a 20% discount on delegate passes for the conference, which is endorsed by the world’s governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
Are Tour de France champions born or made? Should cyclists strength train? How can pain become gain? What are the real benefits of contemporary sports nutrition? And – bottom line – can sports science help make race winners?
These are a few of the questions that world leading sports scientists, coaches and medical practitioners aim to address at the second World Congress of Cycling Science, which will take place at the Rose Bowl in Leeds just days before the city hosts the Grand Depart of the Tour de France (Saturday 5th July).
The conference is organised by the University of Kent’s School of Sports and Exercise Science, which is headed by Professor Louis Passfield and Dr James Hopker; two of Great Britain’s leading names in the field. The conference has so far attracted representatives from UCI Pro Tour teams from across the world.
Integrating the various aspects of coaching, sports science, medicine, technology and performance, the congress will provide a forum for the discussion of performance enhancement, with a focus on the Tour itself. Speakers and participants include former riders turned coaches, Charlie Wegelius (Garmin-Sharp) and Marco Pinotti (BMC Pro Cycling Team), with other special guests to be announced.
Professor Passfield, previously a sports scientist with the Great Britain Cycling Team, said that the aim of the conference is “to further the use of science in cycling and to help share relevant information with coaches and sports scientists. The conference programme is designed to stimulate and inspire future collaboration and research-informed practice for the benefit of a new generation of cyclists”.
Dirk Friel - Founder, Chief Evangelist of TrainingPeaks official training software supplier to British Cycling - is travelling from the USA to support the conference. He will be available at the event to British Cycling coaches and TrainingPeaks users who wish to speak to him regarding the use of TrainingPeaks products.
To find out more information about the congress, speakers and how to book, please visit the following website: www.wcss2014.co.uk.
Alongside the congress, there will also be a schools event for 150 children on the Wednesday afternoon and an evening event for up to 250 members of the public on the Thursday evening. Further information about the evening event and how to book a place will be available soon. To register your interest, please email WCSSLeeds@kent.ac.uk.
