With the new Paralympic cycle on the road to Los Angeles 2028 underway, the UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) in Aigle, Switzerland, became the hub of a week of learning and training for eight para cyclists from Austria, Ireland, Norway, and the United Arab Emirates. During their stay, the athletes not only trained in the indoor velodrome and gym, but also took part in educational sessions on media, social networks, and sporting integrity, along with a visit to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.
The goal of the camp was twofold: to provide a solid foundation for developing cyclists and to sharpen the skills of experienced athletes who lack regular access to indoor tracks. “They had access to top-level facilities and guidance from professional coaches,” explained Todd Fraser, UCI’s Para-cycling director. The experience aimed to equip athletes with practical tools to continue progressing toward the major Paralympic event in 2028.
High-level training and new perspectives in Aigle
Norwegian Kevin Touya (C4), accustomed to road competitions, saw the camp as a valuable opportunity to dive into track cycling. “I’ve learned a lot, especially about starts from the block, rotations, and gear shifting,” he shared. Meanwhile, Irishman Tojo Lazzari (C5), a former triathlete, highlighted the impact of training on a velodrome after months of preparation without access to a real track. “This is only my third time on an actual track, so it’s great to get some solid time on the velodrome. I enjoy sprinting and want to be in Los Angeles 2028,” he said.
From Austria, Franz-Josef Laesser (C4), a medalist at the recent UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio 2024, appreciated the chance to exchange experiences with peers in an ideal setting. “It’s a dream situation, everything is in one place, and you can fully focus on your training. It’s given me new insights to improve for 2028,” he stated. Alongside those mentioned, the camp also featured Irish cyclists like Heather Jameson (C3), Jessica Kennedy, and Ciarán O’Toole (both B, with their pilots), as well as Emirati riders Ahmed Albedwawi and Abdulla Alblooshi (C5), accompanied by their coach Mohammed Alblooshi.
