Best training schedule for TdF?

[mustachestaff]

Is the Giro a good lead-up to the Tour, or should riders focusing on the Tour pace themselves with shorter races leading up July? Are different programs better for different riders? Or are some riders forced into riding both the Giro and the Tour because their team doesn't have a lot of GC depth?

 

[Big Doopie]

um...i gotta think this thread is best answered in the clinic.

 

[42x16ss]

This doesn't have to go to the clinic, this is about a rider's racing/training program leading up to the Tour.

I guess it depends on what the rider has been doing and when they started their season. If they have had a relatively quiet season so far, such as Sastre, then the Giro is probably excellent base building. It seemed to work for Wigans and LA last year, that is why VdV and Wigans are taking that route this year.

On the other hand, if a rider has been racing a lot early in the season then a 3 week obliteration like the Giro would be the last thing they would want to do to prepare.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Notso Swift]

Err, I think you mean form and fitness, the Clinic is something else entirely...

Personally, I can understand the guys (Like Sastre this year) who target train with no racing.
But for me there isn't any substitute for racing, the thing is you still need a program when you race, which may mean not going hard on various days, acting in support

Either way takes discipline, either to get out and make you solo stuff the right quality, or to not get caught up and trying to push in the final when you are supposed to be there for support only

 

[frameforum]

This doesn't have to go to the clinic, this is about a rider's racing/training program leading up to the Tour.

I guess it depends on what the rider has been doing and when they started their season. If they have had a relatively quiet season so far, such as Sastre, then the Giro is probably excellent base building. It seemed to work for Wigans and LA last year, that is why VdV and Wigans are taking that route this year.

On the other hand, if a rider has been racing a lot early in the season then a 3 week obliteration like the Giro would be the last thing they would want to do to prepare.

Just my thoughts.

'Wigans' ?

Up there with 'Eddie Merricks'.

 

[Big Doopie]

how best to prepare for the tdf has everything to do with the clinic.

 

[issoisso]

'Wigans' ?

Up there with 'Eddie Merricks'.

His name is Freddy Merckx dumbass

 

[RedheadDane]

No, Big Doopie, it doesn't!

Anyway, doesn't the best way to prepare sorta... depend on the rider?

 

[RedheadDane]

how best to prepare for the tdf has everything to do with the clinic.

No it doesn't...

Anyway... doesn't the best way of preparing depend on the rider? What's the best way for one might be awfull for someone else...

 

[Anonymous]

One that included the Tour of Gila.....

 

[GoGarmin]

'Wigans' ?

Up there with 'Eddie Merricks'.

Hahahahhahahaha....

 

[kurtinsc]

What have recent tour winners done?

I know Lance never rode the Giro in a tour winning year, and Contador didn't in his two tour wins. I don't know about Sastre or Oscar. Indurain rode both Giro and Tour from '92 to '94 (and rode the Vuelta in the same timeframe in '91 and '92). Not sure about Riis, Ulrich or Pantani in their winning years.

 

[Magnus]

Indurain won GdI and TdF in 92-93
Pantani did it in 98
Rominger won the vuelta and did great in the tour in 93 (the vuelta was in the spring then).

Sastre and Menchov did good in the giro last year and horrible in the tour.