As as small and poor Pro-Tour team I hoped to win the Tour Down under this season because it's often the easiest stage race to win.
I wanted to start the season in a good shape to have a beter chance of winning so I tried to be smart:
- at the end of last season I gave my riders a fitness-schedule that let them peak towards the end of december.
- before moving forward to january 1st I also adapted their schemes so they had a peak in january as well
I thought I had everything covered, but on january 1st I saw that all my riders were in a lousy shape (low 50's on fitness). By the time I got to the TDU, Philippe Gilbert was already in a great shape and I didn't get even close.
Anyone got an idea how I can train my riders so they are in a better shape in january (let's say 65-70 on fitness)?
Without cheating or using training camps of course
I`m not sure but I think they don`t train on fitness from 15.10. to 31.12.
So easiest way is to send your guys into a preparation trainingcamp for 10 days and train him with level 2-3. Not more because he will get tired then too fast.
Then he should have a 70 fitness and on 5th stage around 80. This is normally enough for Down Under.
Your riders don't train during vacation.
Also the training schedules will be reset at the 1st of january.
So this is what you do:
At the first of january you create a custom training schedule starting with level 2 twice, then level 3 three times, then level 4 and apply it to the riders who should participate in TDU.
Then, 11 days before the TDU you send your riders to a preparation camp for 10 days. While in this camp you should start easy not to ruin their morale. (If the message tells you that some riders had problems, you shouldn't raise the training).
Hint: You can also use different training camps grouping your riders according to their actual training fitness. So you could start some camps later to save money.
Thanks Roturn and Lachi, that's sort of what I did (except for the training camps which I don't like to use)
But what meant is that the jaruary 1st fitness is sort of variabe. Some riders have a fitness of 35, whilst others have something like 58 (dunno if 60+ is possible). What I wanted to know is if it's possibe to influence this.
