Tour of California

[scottc]

About two weeks ago, Trainerroad.com pushed an email out to all their subscribers challenging them to an eight day indoor trainer circuit designed around the Tour of California. The long term forecast was rain, rain, and more rain, so pre-Reg I did. The race opened the same day as the real bike race.

Stage 1 had 1,757 other racers anxiously waiting to get rolling in staging. We were sent out in waves according to time zones. Day one wasn't slated as an easy day, but I started off easy by skipping all sprints and covering no attacks mainly because I didn't properly taper for a stage race. Stage 2 was a 22 minute time trial out and back, which enabled me to test how my training has progressed since February. Everyone knows that 'the test' is no fun but is okay when 'the result' is better than the last - 20 minute 2014 PR. Knowing there were six more days, I feared bumping up the trainerroad FTP setting, so I didn't. Stage 3 was the first mountain stage and went well yielding a top 10 finish. Not bad for a big guy. Stage 4 had an early break but we sat in because it was too early to chase. An opportunity opened up and put me into a bridge group to the lead group. We over took them, got the KOM and at the top, I was all alone and time trialed onto the stage victory; best simulated race workout I've ever done. I was rewarded with a 60 minute 2014 PR. Stage 5 had frequent climbs at or above 77% FTP intermingled with anaerobic sprint efforts for coveted sprint points. Stage 6 [Done @ 80% intensity] was arguably the hardest stage with a lot of punchy, intermediate climbing followed by a massive mountain top finish makes for an excellent opportunity to leave a mark on the GC. The stage was highly tactical, dishing out plenty of intensity work in between seriously hard efforts ranging from 115% FTP to a whopping 180% FTP. The final climb was tough but without the luxury of tactical slowdowns in between efforts. Stage 7 [@ 60% intensity], legs were pretty smoked, but the ratcheted back setting certainly didn't provide any rest opportunities hammering home a ton of sweet-spot work over rolling hills with an extremely intense circuit finish. Day 8 found me outside, riding with friends on tired legs. As the day warmed my legs began to feel quick and surprisingly good. We road for about 4.5 hours and the plan was to finish Stage 8 after tucking the kids in for bed. That didn't happen because 5 hours of yard work and a couple strong beers had me couch bound for the remainder. Then, I had a brilliant idea: wake up at 5:00 AM and finish the stage race! I rose at 5, but had no desire to get on my bike to finish it out, so I got dropped!

Even though the weather turned out to be much better than forecasted, it was an amazingly fun and challenging 8 days giving my training the snap it needed to sharpen things up for the upcoming races. There were 1,757 Registered Riders; 515 Peloton Riders who finished; 1,242 Dropped riders. Sure wished I had finished what I started, but traded solo training for time with friends outside on roads I've never been on enjoying the day

All of the workouts are in the online workout library, so check them out next time rain forces you inside. The guys at trainerroad.com made it really fun!

[PJ McQuade]

Sounds like a solid block of training. A virtual stage race - only in 2014. There were some good riding days but at least you avoided junk miles.