Our Team Pathway

South Side XC Devo offers three team levels so athletes can grow at the right pace. Team placement is based on readiness, not status. We consider race experience, technical ability, training consistency, communication, maturity, family support, travel availability, and long-term goals.

Development Team Regional Team National Team

Learning the Process

For riders who are ready to learn how to train, race, and prepare with a team while keeping the sport fun, positive, and age appropriate.

Committing to the Process

For committed athletes who have progressed beyond the beginner stage and are ready for structured training, greater accountability, and a stronger regional race calendar.

Executing at the Highest Level

For experienced Junior and U23 athletes who have earned, or are prepared to race at, the USA Cycling Cat 1 level and are ready to pursue national-level goals.

Best For

Athletes newer to structured training, newer to USA Cycling, or ready to add local racing and team-supported development alongside their NICA experience.

Best For

USA Cycling Cat 2 athletes working toward Cat 1-level racing and higher-level regional competition.

Best For

Experienced Junior and U23 athletes prepared for Cat 1-level racing, national-level goals, and championship preparation.

Program Focus

  • Skill development
  • Endurance and confidence
  • Race-day basics
  • Nutrition and hydration education
  • Team expectations
  • USA Cycling pathway introduction

Program Focus

  • Year-round development
  • Individualized coaching
  • Skills camps and team rides
  • Regional race preparation
  • Cat 2 to Cat 1 progression
  • Race strategy and accountability

Program Focus

  • National-level performance planning
  • Advanced race preparation
  • Weekly communication and check-ins
  • Championship preparation
  • Travel and recovery planning
  • Professional sponsor representation

Race Pathway

Selected local races from May through August, including opportunities that help athletes understand how NICA, local racing, and USA Cycling can work together.

Race Pathway

Selected regional races such as US Pro Cup in Fayetteville, Iron Mountain in Arkansas, Englewood in Wisconsin, the ICC Challenge, the Missouri State Championship, and other USA Cycling-sanctioned regional races.

Race Pathway

USA Cycling National Championships, High School National Championships, Collegiate Championships when applicable, selected regional events, and other appropriate national-level races.

What Athletes Receive

  • Basic training plan and development guidance
  • Skills practices and team rides
  • Nutrition and hydration education
  • Race-day support for 3–4 local races
  • Team race kit and practice jersey
  • Team podium shirt and discounted team apparel
  • Supportive coaching focused on fundamentals

What Athletes Receive

  • Individualized monthly training plan
  • Training adjustments with two weeks’ notice
  • Skills camps and team training opportunities
  • Race-prep meetings before key events
  • Team-supported regional race calendar
  • Team race and practice kits
  • Sponsor and product support or discounts when available

What Athletes Receive

  • Highest level of individualized coaching
  • National-level race planning and season development
  • Weekly communication and performance check-ins
  • Advanced race preparation and strategy
  • Support at selected regional and national races
  • Team race and practice kit
  • Sponsor and product support or discounts when available

Cost

Team Fee: $300

Coaching Fee: $50/month

Program Length: March–August

Estimated Coaching Cost: $300

Estimated Total Program Cost: $600

Cost

Team Fee: $500

Coaching Fee: $100/month

Program Length: Year-round

Estimated Annual Coaching Cost: $1,200

Estimated Total Annual Program Cost: $1,700

Cost

Team Fee: $1,000

Coaching Fee: $200/month

Program Length: Year-round

Estimated Annual Coaching Cost: $2,400

Estimated Total Annual Program Cost: $3,400

Additional Costs to Plan For

Team fees and coaching fees do not include every cost associated with racing. Families should also plan for USA Cycling license, race registration fees, travel and lodging, meals and race nutrition, bike maintenance and repairs, replacement parts and tires, team apparel beyond included items, optional additional races, and national championship travel when applicable.

South Side XC Devo will work to reduce barriers when possible through sponsorship, fundraising, scholarships, and team support. Financial aid may be available based on need, athlete commitment, and available team funding.

top of page

2027 Programs / Missouri off-road cycling

Your goals.
A team behind you.
 

Individual goals. Shared commitment.

​

South Side XC Devo helps Missouri junior and U23 off-road cyclists grow through coaching, skills development, purposeful racing and a team they want to be part of. Our Collegiate / Alumni pathway keeps athletes connected to SSXC through college and beyond.

Pro_cup_26-197 (1).jpg

One team. Four pathways.

Your goals, experience, school schedule and family travel capacity help shape your pathway. We coordinate shared practices, education and race support so those opportunities work with your development plan - not against it. Placement reflects readiness, goals and family capacity - not an athlete's value to the team. You do not need the same ambitions or race schedule as every teammate.

01.                                                           March-August | 6 months

 

Development

Build foundations

​

Junior athletes newer to structured training or ready to explore racing beyond NICA while building skills, confidence and positive habits.

​

Learn how to prepare, train and race with guidance that keeps development appropriate to the athlete's stage.

​

Your pathway includes

  • Foundational training guidance and feedback.

  • Skills practices, team rides and athlete education.

  • Race preparation and support at designated local or select USA Cycling events.

​

Annual Team fee $300 Monthly coaching $50/month

​

$600 Total March-August program cost

$300 + (6 × $50) = $600

​

A supported next step, without a year-round coaching commitment.

02.                                              Year-round | 12-month illustration

 

Regional Development

Grow your racing

​

Junior and U23 Category 2 athletes ready for stronger regional competition and progression toward Category 1.

​

Connect individualized coaching, technical development and purposeful race experience to a realistic progression plan.

​

Your pathway includes

  • An assigned individual coach and training plan.

  • Planning, feedback and adjustments matched to the pathway.

  • Team skills sessions, education and regional race preparation.

  • Support at selected regional team events.

​

Annual Team fee $750, Monthly coaching $150/month

​

$2,550Annual program cost with 12 coaching months

$750 + (12 × $150) = $2,550

​

Build consistency, race craft and experience in stronger fields.

03                                               Year-round | 12-month illustration

 

National Development

Prepare for bigger goals.

​

Junior and U23 Category 1 athletes, or selected endurance athletes, ready for focused national-level preparation.

​

Build an individualized season around appropriate goal events, advanced preparation and purposeful team-supported racing.

​

Your pathway includes

  • An assigned individual coach and individualized training plan.

  • Goal-specific planning, feedback and adjustments.

  • Advanced skills, race strategy and target-event preparation.

  • Support at selected regional and national team events.

 

Annual Team fee $1,500 Monthly coaching $200/month

$3,900 Annual program cost with 12 coaching months

$1,500 + (12 × $200) = $3,900

 

Pursue ambitious goals with a coordinated preparation and support plan.

04                                                                         Annual affiliation

 

Collegiate / Alumni

Stay connected. Keep progressing.

​

Collegiate athletes and SSXC alumni who want to remain part of the team while pursuing their own cycling goals.

​

Keep collegiate priorities central and connect with SSXC through approved practices and selected team events. Participation and support are agreed around your collegiate or independent racing plan.

​

Your pathway includes

  • Continued SSXC affiliation and team communication.

  • Opportunities to join approved practices and team activities.

  • Race support at selected team events, with services confirmed in advance.​

​

Annual Team fee $500

$500 Annual team affiliation Coaching not included

​

A way to stay part of SSXC without enrolling in a full development coaching pathway. 

Program fees are not a complete racing budget. Development includes six monthly coaching payments for March-August. Regional and National annual totals assume 12 monthly coaching payments. Collegiate / Alumni is a $500 annual affiliation; coaching is separate. Payment timing and final terms are confirmed before enrollment. Specific coaches, events and support services depend on the written pathway and confirmed capacity.

​

Not sure which option fits? U23 athletes may also fit Regional or National Development. Being college-age does not automatically make an athlete an affiliate. We will discuss your goals and the level of coaching and team participation that fits your plan.

Coaching + coordination

​

One athlete.

One coordinated plan.

​

The athlete and family bring the goals and real-life context. For development athletes, the training coach guides planning, feedback and adjustments, while the team director connects those priorities with shared opportunities and available support.

 

Collegiate / Alumni athletes coordinate their selected SSXC activities alongside a separately arranged coaching or collegiate plan.Before enrollment, we work through the proposed pathway, participation commitments, coaching arrangement and costs together. The written pathway identifies individual priorities, shared commitments and confirmed team support.

Your written pathway

​

Know what you are
working toward.

​

01 Your individual priorities

​

02 Your shared commitments

​

03 Your confirmed team support

​

Different goals can share a team weekend without requiring identical training plans or target events.

The team experience

Commitment worksboth ways.​Athletes are expected to follow through on the practices, education and race commitments agreed for their pathway, communicate conflicts early, arrive prepared and support their teammates.In return, SSXC explains why shared activities matter, makes support and family costs clear, and discusses changes when school, health, family or other circumstances affect the plan. School, other sports, NICA or collegiate commitments, geography and travel limits belong in the planning conversation.You do not have to be our fastest athlete to be a valued teammate.

Race support

Your race plan and our support calendarare connected - not identical.

We concentrate team resources on purposeful shared opportunities. A race can still matter to your goals when SSXC cannot provide on-site support.

01

Full team support

 

A designated team weekend with coaching, mechanical and equipment services as confirmed in the trip plan.

Team-supported does not mean every expense is paid. The trip plan identifies the services offered, athlete preparation and family costs. Event dates and support remain subject to the final calendar, roster, budget and athlete readiness.

02

Partial support

 

Selected staff or resources, based on participation, budget and the developmental value of the event.

03

Individual event

 

An athlete-specific priority that can fit the coaching plan without on-site SSXC staff, equipment or travel support.

bottom of page