Alex Dowsett has offered his advice to U16 and junior riders, with some great common sense tips for young cyclists and even their parents.
His advice is not to take U16 racing too seriously as it simply won't count for much when you get older if you want to turn pro.
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The Israel Start-Up Nation rider also says juniors should not be full-time cyclists as their development can max out too fast and they need other things in their life.
Have a look at the video below, it's well worth viewing and taking in what he says.
He's been through the whole cycling age-related system and has also seen how other successful riders navigated it so he knows a thing or two. Some areas covered include:
- Race at every discipline
- Don't classify yourself as specific type of rider
- Don't leave school, it won't help your cycling
- Don't take it too seriously, but race hard
- Race as training, don't focus too much on structured training as U16
- As a junior, the best form of training is to ride with seniors better than you
- Take advice from good elites and listen to it, don't be afraid to ask them
- As an U16 buy a BMX, not a power meter
- More physically developed kids will win, but it will level out
- Juniors shouldn't compare themselves to the top riders
- Have a go at cyclocross even if you're only interested in road
- Don't be a full-time junior, you have all your life to be full-time if you want
- Weight, Watts and FTP don't matter at U16 and junior level, forget about them
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