This year’s Tour de France promises to be even more hotly contested as the WorldTour peloton have been like a bunch of caged animals for months, and sponsors heap on pressure for the exposure that has been missing so far this year. Despite the lack of racing and outdoor training, everybody has had months to get into peak fitness. I do however think that the lack of racing could lead to some interesting outcomes in the final week, but we also need to remember that every team is incredibly professional in its scientific approach to coaching, so I’m not expecting any big surprises.
One thing that has been broken is the schedule and routine we are all accustomed to. The body follows a certain biorhythm. Some riders always have good condition in the spring, others in July. It’s not only about training but for some, form just comes more easily at different times of the year. There is also security in following a very similar training plan. My race schedule has been basically the same for the past five seasons, meaning I know when to train hard and what to do.