THE POSSIBILITIES OF APPLYING LONG-TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT (LTAD) IN HUNGARIAN TRACK CYCLING

Abstract

The track cycling discipline is one of the most specialized branches of cycling, characterized by high-speed, technically and tactically complex competitions held on banked velodromes. In Hungary, the sport has a long tradition; however, current youth development is significantly constrained by infrastructural limitations, the restricted capacity of the only indoor velodrome (BringAréna), and the fact that most young riders enter the system from other cycling disciplines. These factors complicate the establishment of an age-appropriate, track-specific development pathway. The Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model is an evidence-based framework (Balyi & Hamilton, 2004) that supports athlete development aligned with age-related physiological and psychological characteristics. International research (Ford et al., 2011) shows that LTAD can be effectively applied across multiple sports, and successful sportspecific adaptations have been implemented in cycling (e.g., Canada, Ireland, Great Britain). In Hungary, the model has not yet been introduced in cycling, although research in other sports (Telegdi & Bognár, 2022; Telegdi, 2024) highlights the need for a structured, development-oriented approach. The aim of this study is to explore how LTAD can be adapted to the specific organizational, infrastructural, and professional context of Hungarian track cycling. The research is based on document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and expert roundtable contributions. Findings indicate a clear demand among practitioners for a unified, age-based development model. LTAD adaptation presents a realistic opportunity for long-term, structured sport development, and its pilot-level implementation could provide a foundation for a broader, evidence-based youth development strategy in Hungarian cycling (Côté & Hancock, 2016).