How do you become a professional cyclist?

go to belgium!!!AnswerTRAINING HARD, OF COURSE !!! AnswerThere are several factors that affect your chances of becoming a professional cyclist. Far easier said than done, though.

There are many different types of cycling on a national, and international level - and some are far more accessible to others. At the amateur to the semi-pro level, you'll likely have to compete in at least 2 different disciplines :

Cross Country Racing (Mountain Biking) and road racing (which has a sub-category of time trials).

I would suggest that you begin by entering a local race first to gauge your fitness. Go to your nearest bike shop and speak to the employees there about races in your local area. In most areas I've been, the cycling community is quite friendly and are more than happy to help you out.

A Word to the wise, though. Don't talk about going pro before your first race...or even before the end of your first season, for that matter. go to the races, and push yourself to the point that you want to die. when others see you suffering, they'll become more inclined to help you out. That's the start. I could write a book on this, but I'll just outline the rest in basic steps.

1. Talk with people who are in the cycling community - they're a valuable resource.....find out what gear you'll need to get you going, and where races are being held, etc..

2. Gain experience by joining as many races as is physically good for you. Any sport (especially cycling) rewards experience, and rewards hours trained....provided you train smart -- (for more on training, visit a personal coaching website and consider a subscription. I suggest googling the carmeichel training site - he's the guy who coached LA to win all of his tours...great guy. great staff. smart training).

3. Once you and your coach feel that you have a reasonable amount of training and experience and fitness, you'll want to test yourself on a higher level. I'm from Canada, so for me, that'll be something an Provincial, or a national-level circut race. If you place well at these, you'll get noticed by the right people...ESPECIALLY if you've been on the scene for a short time.

4. There is no fourth step. Once you get to the point where you're doing national level races, wherever you may live, you'll know just as much, if not more than myself about what you'll need to do to turn pro. I wish you the best of luck....In all likely hood, you have a long and arduous road ahead of you with many hundreds of hours of training ahead of you -- not to mention empty pockets (you'll see what i mean by that second part quite soon).

Keep your rubber side down, and the best of luck to you !