DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Bakkers Trailblazers Development Program is based on a foundation of athletic excellence, sportsmanship, and personal development. Through the sport and community of cycling, our athletes are coached in a encouraging environment where teamwork, confidence, and individual progress are equally valued. We aim to develop confident, capable riders who succeed on and off the bike, all while having FUN!
WHY JOIN?
Our program is designed to meet athletes where they are and guide them forward. By focusing on physiological (fitness), psychological (confidence, resilience), technical (bike handling, safety), and tactical growth (decision-making, race awareness), we ensure riders receive the preparation they need to develop safely, confidently, and effectively. This comprehensive approach ensures each athlete is supported as they grow, learn, and progress in the sport.
Program Specifics
Open to all above the age of 13 (please inquire for more information:
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There are 3 branches of our Devo program: Devo Race, Devo Jam, and Diva Jam.
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Devo Race is for the rider who wants to maximize their performance. Workouts are specific in efforts and require commitment from the athlete. This program is year-round and covers mountain bike (Spring and Summer) and cyclocross (Fall).
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Devo Jam is for the rider who wants to ride and session features with like minded riders and with the guidance of our coaches. This program is designed to be less performance oriented, instead focusing on developing a riders ability within the sport within a supportive community. Devo Jam riders will focus on building skills and practicing them throughout sessions.
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Diva Jam is new for the 2026 season. This program will follow the same ideology of our Devo Jam program, but will be exclusively for women. Diva Jam offers female riders a safe, supportive space to be introduced and develop within the sport of mountain biking. It will focus on teaching and practicing skills.​​
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The Devo Race and Devo Jam streams are interchangeable, you may join a Devo Race session or vice versa (with the exception of joining the Diva Jam program). If a Diva Jam rider wishes to join another stream they are welcome to do so.
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We aim for two sessions a week:
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Devo Race — meets on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.
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Devo Jam — meets on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.
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Diva Jam — meets on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings.
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Exact schedule and times posted in April, subject to changes.
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Training locations include:
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Weekdays — South March Highlands, Greenbelt, Wesley Clover, Carp Barrens, etc.
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Weekends — Domaine Kanawe, Vorlage, Fortune, MSM, Wilderness Tours, Gatineau Park, etc.
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Training plan and scheduled workouts via Training Peaks (Devo Race)
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Race preparation and support
Additional Benefits
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Certified Coaching Staff who are committed to the progress of each individual athlete and passionate about youth development.
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Each of our coaches are PMBIA Level 1 Coaching certified
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Our program leader has over 15 years of NCCP certification experience
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Team discount at local sponsors.
Race Program Details
For the Spring and Summer session, the Devo Race program will focus on preparing and racing the mountain bike season (Cross-country and Enduro focus). In preparation for the racing season there will be an additional optional road ride on Sunday mornings in the Gatineau Park throughout the summer. Once the fall season begins, the Devo Race program will focus exclusively on the cyclocross season with training sessions in Kanata bi-weekly.​
​Preliminary Race Targets
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The team will be primarily participating in the following race series:
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Gravel Cup and Ottawa Local Gravel events
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Trek Twilight MTB Series powered by Bushtukah
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Select O-Cup, Q-Cup events, and Canada Cups
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Eastern Ontario Cyclocross Series
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Exact schedule to be posted in April.
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Main targets for 2026 include:
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Highlands Nordic MTB O-Cup — May 16-17
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Sherbrooke Canada Cup — May 29-31
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Boler Mountain O-Cup — June 13-14
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Hardwood O-Cup — June 20-21
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OG Classique UCI Gravel Fondo — June 21
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Mont St Anne— Aug 22-23
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Crankworx World Tour XC and DH — Mont St Anne — Sept 4-7
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Bromont Enduro Nationals — September 12-13
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Woodnewton MTB Provincials
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Rochester Cyclocross
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Washington PanAms
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Oro-medonte/Hardwood Nationals — Oct 31-Nov 1st
Cost
Devo Race: $125/month + hst. Includes Spring and Summer mountain bike sessions, and Fall cyclocross session (guided rides, coaching, race support, along with Bakkers Trailblazers team membership, discounts at Bushtukah and on Bakkers Trailblazers team merchandise).
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Devo Jam and Diva Jam: $499+hst/per year: includes Spring and Summer sessions (guided rides, coaching, race support, along with Bakkers Trailblazers team membership, discounts at Bushtukah and on Bakkers Trailblazers team merchandise).
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Members will also require insurance and a license provided by the Ontario Cycling Association (OCA), sold separately. If you are Devo Race, we suggest getting a UCI license so you can race any event we go to. If you are Devo Jam, get a community license to start and if you want to race more seriously, you can upgrade as needed to a challenge license. If you only ride with the team and compete in our Trek Twilight series, you only need community.
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Space is limited, inquire below for membership application.
Join the Development Team
Interested in Supporting the Development Team?
As a lifelong activity, cycling appeals to children, families and adults, reaching a broad audience that goes beyond traditional demographics. Cycling is the second most popular recreational activity in the world, attracting significant public attention with a high media presence. It offers an exciting, results driven, technologically innovative sport in a healthy, environmentally sound format.
But, racing can be expensive for active competitors considering the cost of equipment and travel. Bakkers Trailblazers uses its budget to mitigate the cost of team uniforms, coaching fees and race support, allowing us to mitigate financial barriers to entry.