The annual plan for road bike training
Professional cyclists take around seven months to prepare for the Tour de France to get into top form - and amateur cyclists can certainly take this methodology as an example. The TOUR plans consist of basic training for February and March, special training camp plans and targeted competition preparation over eight weeks for the main competition. On the way there, training competitions should also be contested - on the one hand to gain race practice and on the other as particularly intensive training.
Because a competition cannot be simulated at will. This is especially true for riding in the field. You can't prepare for this on your own. When training time is short, a training camp is particularly important in order to be able to train more specifically and thus create training stimuli for which there is simply not enough time in everyday life. Below we show examples of how the run-up to various goals can be organised.
Road bike training: a highlight of the season
>> Classic: A seasonal peak. Complete the competition plan eight weeks back from the competition date (weeks 10-17) and fill up the time before that with the basic plan. If more time is available, extend the basic plan.
Cycling marathon season highlight with training camp
>> In this case, the spring training camp replaces the last three weeks of the basic plan. If the competition is a cycling marathon, it makes sense to insert the mountain camp plan into the competition plan in week 13.
Road bike training: two highlights of the season
>> Two highlights of the season: Before the run-up to the second peak of the season, four weeks of the basic plan bring some relaxation.
Road bike training by watts or pulse
The 7 training zones
Training requires the load to be categorised - into areas of varying intensity. Subjective perception is one way of controlling the intensity. It works better with the help of Powermeters and/or heart rate monitors.
Robert Kühnen
Editor
