As a racer, I was fortunate to work with some of the best coaching minds the Soviet cycling has ever produced. The ever patient Piotr Trumheller, the always barking Viktor Kapitonov, the cunning Alexander Gousyatnikov or the analytical Yuri Elizarov, each had their own, unique approach to coaching and yet they shared one thing in common – making champions. Not of every rider of course but plenty enough to pause and ask yourself – why almost anything they touch turns into gold? Being curious by the different coaching methods these men used, I took notice and observed their work, asked questions, poked their minds. Why, for example, would Kapitonov turn a 4 hour ride into a slaughter while Elizarov would slow us down when we were all itchy for an in-house dog fight?
These and other questions were answered while studying the bachelor’s degree in cycling coaching at the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine. Things started to fall into their places when I was able to put my practical knowledge of training and racing together with the theoretical knowledge I gained at the University, famous for its affluent academia and cutting edge research.
Coaching Philosophy
I reject the “No pain, no gain” notion so prevalent in cycling circles today. If I had to express my coaching philosophy by a cliché, I would rather use a phrase like “Minimum pain, maximum gain” or something like that. I believe that only a healthy, nutritiously fed, well rested and stress free athlete is capable of achieving their full potential in sport. In my work, I make sure the athletes I coach are never crippled by senseless, unnecessarily hard workouts.
Because cycling is an endurance sport relying almost exclusively on aerobic metabolism for energy production, I concentrate a lot of my effort on developing, consolidating and improving the athlete’s aerobic system. Anaerobic workouts begin only when the athlete’s aerobic system is sufficiently prepared to take on the high intensity workload. And even then, the anaerobic workouts are carefully measured and cautiously carried out.
I invite you to consider working with me as your cycling coach, guiding you in your athletic development, race tactics, bike skills and nutrition.
