Tapering for Etape du Tour
Great, you are doing all the things right that will help you turn up and smash Etape to pieces and really enjoy yourself.
However, as well as training, there's a crucial element to being in peak shape for Etape.
Do you know what it is?
I've give you a hint! It's in the title (“der, Tim!”).
It's tapering! And I don't mean beer and pizza (that's for afterwards).
Tapering is critical before an intense effort like Etape, as it ensures you are in peak condition and not still suffering from the effects of training.
There's no point in turning up to Etape having done weeks of training to then fall apart during the actual event due to being burnt out.
What a waste!
Tapering for Etape du Tour
The VeloNomad Guide to Training for Etape and the Tackling L'Etape guide both have a taper guide as part of the training program.
This is the same plan I'll be using and fitting in with my itinerary, which is roughly as described below. Session names come from the Etape training guide.
- July 5 – Arrive in Paris, collect camper, head to Lake Geneva.
- July 5, 6, 7 – Spend a couple of days in Lake Geneva, hopefully with a couple of hours climbing a hill. Short Session 1 on 7th.
- July 8 – Transfer to the St Jean de Maurienne area, hopefully do Croix de Fer or Iseran or Izoard (reader suggestions please!). This is supposed to be a 1R session but I want to blow my legs up.
- July 9 – no ride. I might renege and repeat my 2009 effort of 2 x Ventoux ascents the two days before Etape, but instead lay waste to the Croix de Fer and Iseran.
- July 10 – Etape registration, 1P session (race prep).
- July 11 – Etape
Obviously, everyone's taper plans will be different. Ideally, I'd be on the ground 10-12 days before hand and have 2-3 big climbs under my belt. I unfortunately can't do that this year.
However, this way I'll have super fresh legs. The main thing will be re-hydrating and spinning out the air travel cobwebs to avoid a repeat of the 2010 Etape debacle.
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