A week or two in Malle is part of the training routine for many cyclists. Instead of family and work commitments, just cycle, cycle and cycle again. And in pleasant temperatures too, there's not much you can do wrong, is there?
Yes, you can do a lot wrong. Sure, it's fun to ride away from the winter blues and get the odometer spinning. But there are a few things you should bear in mind if you want your training camp to be as effective as possible.
Training volumes cannot be increased at will. The Preparation The preparation for the training camp therefore begins at home. You should train regularly at least four weeks in advance, but three months is better. One Doubling the scope of training at a training camp is feasible because there is no everyday stress and there is more time available for regeneration. But you can only go from 0 to 25 hours if you set the intensity very, very low.
In a training camp, it's not just mass that counts. If you ride as long and as fast as you can every day, you will wear yourself out and easily fall ill on your return. The principles of training must also be taken into account during the training camp and sufficient Regeneration and a sensible training programme. Only those who do this will go home stronger than they went.
The training camp is not the highlight of the season. Or is it? Check your motivation. If the training camp is Building block of a long-term plan to build up form If you want your training to serve the purpose of a speed group, it's best not to race in the speed group every day, but to divide up the length and pace of your training sessions - even if this doesn't always suit the group dynamic. Training in a group is not without its problems. In the slipstream you are quickly underchallenged, but on the mountain you have to accelerate all the more. There's nothing wrong with the occasional test of strength, but you should also take it easy in between, concentrate on the Basic area focus and Days off plan.
The follow-up to the training camp is very important. After a huge increase in the amount of training - and that's what a training camp usually is - you first need to recover thoroughly in order to make the most of the training stimuli. draw new strength. For this purpose, at least one week of relaxed training should be taken into account in a well-trained condition.