“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

2025 FreeFly Development

Introduction, Objective

Thank you for your interest in the FreeFly Junior Development Team! Our goal is to build stronger, more confident and capable juniors though competitive cycling with a focus on fun, professional quality coaching and race support. Cycling is a great sport to learn many life lessons. Though difficult, it inherently challenges it’s participants on many fronts, forcing them to navigate confidence, personal responsibility, perseverance, winning and losing in real life. This simple yet robust set of challenges underpins all of our coaching. We hope you’ll consider joining our ranks.

 

Season, Structure

The team is geared toward intermediate and advanced riders aged 13-22 with an interest in increasing their exposure to, and understanding of more serious racing and training. Officially, team practices and race support begin November 1, 2024, and run through September 2025. Team practices occur about twice a month with a progressive structure. They begin with foundational skill and fitness, leading to race specific learning in early spring through summer. The team will focus on mountain bike events at its core but also teach and attend select road and gravel events. Since most race dates have not been released, the team race schedule is TBD. The  team will attend between 8 and 10 events in the region (NC, SC, GA and VA), with the Winter Short Track Series being our first events. Practices and regional race support will integrate directly with the national race calendar. National level event support is not included in this project but riders on this team can attend with full race support for an additional cost of $200 per rider, per event.

 

Ebb, Flow

We anticipate the level of interest riders have for training and racing to change throughout the year. Therefore, we encourage them to adjust their involvement intentionally by taking some parts of the season more seriously than others. For example, more serious athletes are encouraged to take a break from formal, custom training to pursue other interests. Additionally, athletes not interested in competing at a high level all year have an opportunity to include formal coaching as needed, for instance three months before a big goal for the year. We firmly believe balance is critical to the overall development of young adults, and these small (or large) reprieves from a detailed training plan are critical to combating burnout. It is our intention to make this base team experience always available, while detailed, structured training can be adjusted based on individual needs.

 

Overview

FreeFly Junior Development Team, November 2024 – September 2025 $2,000/year

 

• Monthly training plan via TrainingPeaks (this is not custom coaching)
• Monthly team web calls for additional instruction and focus
• Race pit use at all team attended races
• Regional team training sessions, 2 days each, 3-4 sessions per year, schedule TBD
• Local team training sessions, 2hrs each, 10 sessions per year, schedule TBD
• General/group race guidance at all team attended races
• One Giordana team jersey and bib provided, additional clothing available at cost
• $75/mo credit toward any custom coaching plan
• Base team discounts from sponsors (Kask, Giordana, ESI etc.), TBD
• Tentative Race Schedule:
  • Winter Short Track Series, SC
  • Tropical MTB Challenge, PR, UCI
  • Tennessee National, UCI 
  • US Cup Arkansas, UCI 
  • Piney Hills Classic, LA, UCI 
  • Englewood Open, WI, UCI 
  • Anglers Ridge, VA, UCI 
  • USAC MTB National Championship, VA
  • USAC Gravel National Championship, VA
  • Other regional MTB, road and gravel events in NC, SC, GA, VA, or TN

 

 

FAQs:

_ Are there any requirements for being on the team?

Yes! A positive attitude and general respect to other riders and coaches is critical. Additionally, athletes are expected to have at least an intermediate level of riding skill as practices are not geared toward beginners. Racing experience is a good thing but not mandatory.

 

_ Are team riders required to race or have a certain number of races per year?

No. Racing is not required and there are no number of required races for athletes. However, racing and competition is a cornerstone of the program’s learning process. Often, athletes learn the most from races, whether it went well or not.

 

_ What does race support mean?

In short, we teach you how to put it all together. Every race support includes the following:

• Race pacing and strategies
• Course preview (line selection, skill implementation and efficiency)
• Nutrition and hydration strategies
• Team pit area for warm-ups, cool downs, bike tools, refreshments and hanging out
• Team mechanic at most races

 

_ Is a training plan provided?

Yes! A general training plan will be provided via training peaks and a general review of training plan execution will be covered on some team web calls. This is not a custom training plan specific to the athlete and does not include regular, private phone calls with your coach.  

 

_ Do I have to be a FreeFly custom coached athlete to join the team?

No. Our general training plan, team practices and race support are the foundation on which custom coaching sits. Athletes are encouraged to choose their level of involvement. We feel riders can benefit from the team even if they never sign up for custom coaching. A $75/mo credit will be applied to any team rider wishing to enroll in monthly custom coaching.

 

_What is Custom Coaching?

Custom coaching is, quite frankly, working directly with coach Chris and our other coaches. A detailed training plan is provided, and regular communication with coach is critical. Here, goal setting and commitment are used to greatly enhance the learning experience as well as build advanced fitness. Custom coaching seamlessly integrates team practices and race support with an individual’s goals. A $75/mo credit will be applied to any team rider wishing to enroll in monthly custom coaching.

 

_ Is there a deadline to join the team?

No, athletes can join at any point during the year but access to team discounts and gear may be limited or delayed. 

 

_ Is there a deadline for team clothing?

Yes, we plan to have all team clothing orders complete by late October.

 

 

_ Can I race for another team but still be on FreeFly?

For race types we support, no. Please understand our sponsors allow for the team to operate with reduced costs to athlete families and provide some product support. We ask that you respect these sponsors and use what has been given to you at races and events, including team clothing. For races we do not support, yes. Good examples of this are NICA, cyclocross, track and BMX.

 

 

_ What if I already have a primary coach? Can I still be on the team?

Yes, although coaching from team staff is still provided and your overall training plan will be shared with our coaches. Regular feedback, monitoring and plan integration with team practices and race support will still occur.