USA cycling holds these national development regional camps all across the country to select for a few young riders to invite to their Colorado Springs Facilities. The young riders are chosen by two tests: a "short" TT test (2.5 km) and a "long" TT test (5 km). Given that none of the "short" or "long" TT tests are not the same course in the different regional camps, they've come up with a "solution".

They ultimately want to figure out an individual's power output, which would ideally be done with a VO2 max test, but they've stated that they don't have the funds or facilities for this. So instead, they do these TT tests. Both TT tests are uphill to eliminate the effect of coasting. This shifts the bias towards cyclists who are better climbers. They say that they eliminate this bias by taking a "total system weight" (you + bike). They measure wattage from distance, time, and total system weight.

Is this an accurate way to measure power output? Is this an effective way of scouting talent across the country or is it biased towards cyclists who do well in uphill TTs?

I think you should post to the road forum where you might get a more informed and comprehensive answer from someone with more direct experience.

I would hazard a guess that the scout uses a variety of observations to make his recommendations. This might include the athletes grasp and execution of fundamentals such as of posture, cadence work ethic, passion, and attitude. Not to mention previous experience, number of competitions & wins.

The TTs number would not be very precise, that is repeatable from one course to the next. The evaluators could not confidently compare the numbers from one city to the next. I feel they would be sufficiently precise to compare one rider to the next on the same course unless the winds were highly variable and gusting. (A blustery day). I would think that the scout would know all of this and assign a weight to the data that corresponds to it's value. That value or worth of the data being diminished if winds pick up over the course etc...or time between riders. If I were a scout I would not reject an athlete solely on one days numbers anyway.

The data would be used to just back up his knowledge and history of the athlete. They would make it easier for him to defend his decision if he sees something in the young athlete that is ingredient of a champion. I am a firm believer that winners are made not born, though essential ingredients must be present.