Ask Oli: Rushing progress
Recently, I’ve felt fortunate to have a few young riders approach me to discuss their next steps with regard to their progression in the sport.
As a disclaimer, I want people to know that I don’t see myself as someone who has ‘made it’ in the sport. I haven’t experienced racing at or anywhere near the top level. I have few, if any, notable results, and haven’t exactly been a consistent athlete in the last couple of years. In no way do I believe that I can give advice based on experience at high levels, however, I do believe that if nothing else, I have experience with not making it, which is perhaps also valuable.
I’ve written recently about talking to pro teams and last December about advice to young cyclists. These articles were mainly about what to consider when applying to professional teams and the importance of keeping things fun.
Something I don’t think I’ve touched on in my writing but discussed with a young rider last week is the potential danger of progressing too quickly.
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Careers should be sustainable. If you don’t spend the time building a strong foundation for a building, that building won’t last long. The taller the building is, the stronger and larger the foundation needs to be and the more support it needs. The stronger the foundation, the more stress the building can withstand.
Similarly, with a career in cycling, you need to take the time to build a strong foundation. The higher you hope to go in the sport, the stronger that foundation needs to be. Otherwise, your career could collapse.
Building a foundation in cycling means taking lots of small steps towards the top level instead of a few big leaps. Sometimes, you may have to spend more time at a certain level than at others.
Going straight from being a (depressed and burnt out) junior, to trying to race at the professional level, did not go very well for me. I wasn’t prepared for the associated stresses and challenges. I should have taken another year or so racing for Canadian trade teams before trying to race at the continental level. When you’re young and fast though, there’s something prideful about moving up quickly.
What I’m trying to say is that there’s no rush. Endurance sports take time to master. Don’t hurry to get to the top or to move up. Be patient with yourself. Allow time to take small, careful steps.
Oliver Evans 20-year-old cyclist from Winnipeg, currently living in Victoria.
