Here are The ChainStay we believe hands on experience is the best way to learn. It’s one of the reasons we started our house in Belgium, to give guys (and gals) a great place to stay while they learn about racing bikes in one of the hardest racing circuits in the world.
Helping young riders develop into winning riders
We are now increasing our support and putting together an Elite / U23 10-week Development Block to better support the riders who come to The ChainStay. The idea of this program is to go beyond our current “cycling hostel” support and provide our guests with more structure and the ability to race together as a team. We are also going to focus on providing individual support and assessment to allow each rider to accelerate their development as much as possible during their time at The ChainStay.
This development camp takes place from April 12th to June 20th, 2013 and offers riders 10-weeks of racing and training in Belgium. Perfect for the build up towards your national championships.
Some of the highlights of our program are:
- Minimum of 2 supported races each week (transportation, logistics and feed support)
- Training Advice both pre-arrival and during
- Weekly Group Meetings to discuss race tactics, training, nutrition and other cycling related topics
- Possibly of Interclub or UCI races (subject to acceptance of our teams entry)
- Moped Motorpacing schedule during the camp, especially in the lead up to Nationals to help peak riders
- Arranging of group activities around Belgium or to view major races in Belgium
- Transportation to and from the Airport when arriving or departing in our designated windows, pick-up on other dates can be arranged for a fee.
- Also included are two jerseys and two shorts of The ChainStay Team Clothing.
Gregg and Holly are here to give our guests support to help them reach their full potential in Europe.
To answer a few of the frequently asked questions:
Do I have to be of a certain racing level to join the Development Block?
No, you do not have to be of a pre-defined level. Our view is if you are willing to come to Belgium and spend your time, money, energy and effort to race here, you are at the level we want. For us, it’s about bringing you farther along in your development as a cyclists. We do ask that those who come to Belgium and race are prepared as mentally and physically as possible. All we require from the guys who come is to give is 100% effort and enjoy your time here.
Will I be selected for International UCI Interclub style races?
Maybe, but that depends on a few possibilities. First, our team will have to be selected for an interclub event first. We have made applications, but nothing is set. Second, we will make a selection of riders that we feel are the best fit for the race. We can’t and won’t guarantee your participation, but will be as fair as we can be in our selection.
Do I have to race for The ChainStay’s team?
No, you do not have to race for our team in kermesse races. If you would prefer to race for your local team, that is fine with us. The only races you will be required to race for The ChainStay is in any interclub events we are selected for.
Do I have to stay for the whole 10-week block?
No, you can do a stay as short as 5-weeks, but we do ask that if you do, you take either the first 5 weeks or the last 5 weeks of the 10-week block. We ask this because in order to gain the most out of our program and your time a time-investment of 5 weeks is needed.
How much does the program cost?
The cost of our Elite/U23 program is €180 euros a week with a minimum of 5 weeks. We do suggest that if you can, please book in for the full 10-weeks of the program, as it gives you the most time to adapt to Belgium and develop, plus we have a special rate of €1500 euros (€150 a week) for a full program stay. This program is limited to just 10 riders and is on a first-come first-serve basis.
How do I book my place in the Development Block?
Just send us an e-mail to bookings@thechainstay.com and let us know you would like to join our program and the dates you would like to come. Once we confirm there is still place we need a deposit of €250 euros via Paypal to bookings@thechainstay.com to secure your place. Payment for the program is due in full in the first 3 days of your stay.
Why is the program any better than just staying at The ChainStay on my own?
Great question. While our house does provide a wonderful place to stay, we have found that guys have been looking for a bit more structure to their stays and a little more support. We are now in a position where we can provide that support, especially on race days, for guests of the house. We are also now doing more group oriented activities such as race analysis, training advice, and group talks about cycling.
If you are interested in our program please contact us ASAP at bookings@thechainstay.com to secure your space.
Gregg Germer, Co-Owner, The ChainStay
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