Welcome to Phase1 Cycling: Developing Elite Cyclists and Future Leaders
Our mission is to provide a platform for young riders to experience racing on the international stage and to take the lessons learned from elite competition to fuel their lifelong personal and professional growth.
Our philosophy is that we learn best by doing hard things with a sense of passion, fun, and purpose. While the competition is fierce, having fun is a vital component of the journey. We celebrate the breakthroughs, embrace the adventure of travel, and ensure the joy of the sport stays at the center of everything we do.
This is especially true in a team setting where individuals become part of something special which is bigger than themselves. This balanced environment is why our graduates look back on their experiences at Phase1 as a key step in developing their confidence to take on bigger career challenges.
Strategic Excellence and Daily Culture:
- Accountability to yourself and to your team
- Communication is key not only the races but in the everyday moment-to-moment routines living together in a foreign country
- Master goal setting, time management, and international travel logistics.
- Bond with your teammates and build lifelong friendships.
- Plan ahead
The following is an excerpt from a rider who took part in the U19 Belgian Race Academy and does a good job of summing up why we stress the above bullet points:
The excitement to race in an environment such as the keremesse scene made me (at first) overlook the second, just as important, aspect which is the day-to-day life staying with the squad. From managing daily meals, cleanup, grocery trips, and general cleanliness of the apartment, we had to learn both to take responsibility for having our own stuff in order, as well as keeping each other accountable in a constructive way. We learned how to navigate a foreign grocery store and figure out meals that were both cost effective and also enough fuel for 7-8 riders. We also discovered that without a system and clear communication on who is responsible for dishes, a kitchen for 8 riders deteriorates very fast. I discovered very quickly that Belgian stores will close randomly and at various times, and so it was important to never assume something would be able to be accomplished later. This and more made up the off-the-bike life, which is a crucial, yet often overlooked part in a rider’s development.
