How to quantify youth cycling performance? Development of a method based on competition results.

Abstract

Our understanding of the development of youth cyclists on their way to elite performance can be aided by quantifying cycling performance. However, there is currently no robust measure of youth cycling performance available. Therefore, we aimed to develop a method resulting in a youth seasonal cycling performance score (YSCPS) for all cyclists competing in the same category that accounts for differences in the race levels and race types those cyclists compete in. In co-creation with an expert panel and starting from the Dutch national ranking system, we propose using the best two performance scores over an entire season for several race types (e.g., international races, stage races, time trials) and averaging those scores over the race types in which a cyclist participated. The YSCPS can be used to follow a cyclist’s development longitudinally as well as for stratifying a cohort of youth cyclists based on performance scores. Researchers and practitioners may use our template methodology to quantify youth cycling performance for the competition structure in their country.