Competitive Cycling Schedule

Click here for the 2010 Schedule

 

 

Verde Valley School is one of the few prep schools in the Western US that offers a competitive cycling program.  Aspiring racers come to VVS from around the world to train and race in one of America’s best cycling environments while pursuing their academic goals and preparing for admission to the college or university of their choice.

Arizona is one of the top training destinations in the US.  Blessed with warm climate and varied terrain, the state hosts top amateur and professional team training camps each year.  The racing season starts in January with the aptly named “Valley of the Sun” stage race, and ends each November with the 8,000 rider cyclosportif “Tour de Tucson.”  In between the schedule is packed with criteriums, road races and time trials.  Boys and girls racing for VVS will compete against other high school teams and in USAC junior races.

The school team is sponsored by Sedona's Absolute Bikes, and is affiliated with Tucson’s Saguaro Velo Club.  Racers are licensed by USA Cycling and compete in age-graded sanctioned events throughout the Southwest.

Coach:
The team is coached by VVS Headmaster Paul Domingue (pictured left).  Paul began his racing career in 1978 and has raced USCF and USAC events on the road and track ever since.  He has coached teams in two prior schools, Connolly High School in Massachusetts and South Kent School in Connecticut.  Connolly won the New England Prep Cycling Federation championship in the women’s division in two successive years.  Paul is a USAC certified coach and still races in the Masters division on the track.  He is the Arizona 2007 and 2009 match sprint state champion.

The season:
Bicycle racing is a demanding sport that requires top conditioning.  The team trains and races during all three of the traditional school sports seasons.

Equipment:
The school owns several good quality road bikes and helmets to get new riders started in the sport.  Serious riders are expected to provide their own equipment, however, including bike and wheels, riding shorts, shoes, warm up clothing and helmet.  Team jerseys are provided for each rider.