A column of cyclists moves at an average speed of 27-33 kilometers per hour, and without training on the road, a high-level athlete cannot grow.
With the onset of warmer weather, training on the roads of Kuldīga district becomes more intense. This means that both drivers and cyclists must be more careful. Although future athletes are accompanied by a specially equipped car, when overtaking such a column, it must be sure that the distance is sufficient.
For road cyclists, asphalt roads are the main training ground.
Cycling training in Kuldīga district
Photo: LTV screenshot
Agris Kimbors, director of Kuldīga district sports school, said that there are no other suitable places for training.
“There were also comments, why should it be raining on the roads at all, but that’s how this sport is, we don’t really have anywhere to train, we don’t have closed tracks in Kuldīga,” said Kimbor. “There is only one track, it is Biķernieku [trase] In Riga, where you can train normally, because the rest are karting tracks, where you don’t really get any road training, and also train all over the world, driving on roads.”
Before the U-14 group of the Kuldīga district sports school goes to training, the readiness of the bicycles for the trip is still checked. This time, speed training with sprint intervals takes place on the Kuldīga–Skrunda highway – there is not much traffic in the middle of the day, and there are many well-visible sections of the road. After about 25 kilometers, riders have a short break to drink and eat cookies.
“During the winter, of course, we give more general physical training to cyclists and youth, which is not just cycling, which includes hiking, running, sports games, weight rooms, swimming pools,” said cycling coach Viesturs Lukšević. “But of course we have days in the week that we also use for cycling. We have a limit of minus 8 degrees.”
Kuldīga district sports school is rich in cycling traditions.
The division of this sport has been operating since 1956, and has given Latvia several champions in cycling, including Krists Neilands, who is currently competing well in the world. Coach Lukševics also started his sports career in Kuldīga and has been the champion of Latvia. Currently, 25 students in three age groups are training here.
Cycling training in Kuldīga district
Photo: LTV screenshot
“I really liked riding a bike, I liked it. I just started riding because I saw how cyclists ride in the countryside, I also wanted to,” Gatis Gruntiņš, a student of Kuldīga district sports school, outlined his path to cycling.
“My brother rides, and I wanted to become a cyclist from the age of eight,” said sports school student Ieva Gaile. “Then my parents wouldn’t let me. Then my swimming coach put an end to it and told me to go cycling.”
The interviewed young people admit that training is not easy, but they are motivated by the desire to become a professional road cyclist.
The Cycling Federation says that boys and girls can train in this sport in eight places in Latvia.
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2024-03-12 16:27:09
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