Tapering for a stage race

[slabs]

I am not sure how long before a stage race like Joberg2C you should start tapering. Training should be done by the middle of April, but what do you do in those last 2 weeks before the race???

[TNT1]

You don't really taper for a stage race. You should go to the first stage a little underdone, and be hitting form during the last few stages.

 

Wait, let me re-phrase that. Use the first couple of stages as the start of your tapering to a plateau. And keep a peak in mind towards the end of the race.

Edited March 17, 2011 by TNT1

[slabs]

You don't really taper for a stage race. You should go to the first stage a little underdone, and be hitting form during the last few stages.

 

Wait, let me re-phrase that. Use the first couple of stages as the start of your tapering to a plateau. And keep a peak in mind towards the end of the race.

 

But what do you do in those weeks leading up to the race? Just do some longish rides at low heart rate or do you still add one or two big climbs or endurance rides?

[TNT1]

medium intensity. Don't overdo the distance, through in one day a week of hard intensity. remember, the key to stage race riding is having the base in your legs to complete the total distance, but also being able to recover after each day sufficiently for the next stage.

 

You don't want to back off completely leading up to a stage race, but you don't want to go in to it overcooked.

[slabs]

Perfect! I have always heard that you must ride yourself fit into the race and that guys that go in over trained tend to do well the first few days, but then bomb out towards the latter parts of the race. For me it was just the question how much is too much!

Edited March 17, 2011 by slabs

[Velouria]

Cut down in quantity, but keep the intensity the same.

[RaeTrewBrowne]

in terms of taper in the last 2 weeks I keep the frequency of training consistent with what I would have been doing leading up to the race just halve each ride by 50% and keep it at 60% effort, works nicely for me

[NotSoBigBen]

In Dangerous Dan's (my boet, training and Epic 2011 partner) words 'now's the time to get in those big long super hard rides with a week to go'

[Wyatt Earp]

In Dangerous Dan's (my boet, training and Epic 2011 partner) words 'now's the time to get in those big long super hard rides with a week to go'

Agreed, nothing like a lekka 9 hour ride the weekend before just to test the legs.

[Wolweseun]

LOL

[vanniri]

Agreed, nothing like a lekka 9 hour ride the weekend before just to test the legs.

 

I assume this is back-to-back 9 hours for Sat & Sun?

 

If I can sneak off from work early the Friday I like to add a few 20 min hill repeats for the Friday before.

 

Obviously you have the Monday as a restday