Periodization 201: USA Cycling Course

This course from Joe Friel, Dr. Vladimir Issurin, and exercise physiologist Rob Pickels shows how “traditional” and “block” periodization methods work best, when to use them, and why they are best implemented for different athletes and training goals.

Build effective training plans for endurance sports that won’t overload your athletes or waste precious training time. Our online course, “Periodization 201,” breaks down the two most widely used training frameworks—traditional periodization and block periodization—so you can see what works, when, and why. You’ll learn how to:

• Recognize the four key training residuals that determine how long adaptations last—and how to use them to sequence training blocks effectively.
• Use block periodization to apply targeted overload, monitor fatigue, and spark real physiological adaptation, especially for advanced or time-crunched athletes.
• Identify when traditional periodization is still the best fit.
• Spot red flags in your athlete’s race calendar or lifestyle that could sabotage your periodization strategy.
• Get insights from top coaches and researchers like Joe Friel, Dr. Vladimir Issurin, and Rob Pickels, who’ve applied these methods to elite-level cyclists and everyday working athletes alike.

Whether you’re coaching juniors, weekend warriors, or Olympic hopefuls, this course helps you organize each season so your athletes peak at the right time, without guesswork or burnout. You’ll walk away with a toolkit to confidently plan training phases, time overloads and tapers, and help athletes hit their top-end performance when it matters most.

How to Enroll

All USA Cycling courses are offered exclusively through USA Cycling’s online learning management system at learn.usacycling.org.

Questions? Contact Suzy Sanchez, Director of DEI and Membership Programs, at ssanchez@usacycling.org.