A Dr Ferrari Training Session

[Paul H]

Ok so he has a reputation and I know Marco is organising a collection to have him assassinated, but he does know a thing or two about training.

Apparently this is a session he presribes his Pros. Im not recommending that anybody does this.

Please can all FACT Fundamentalists not read any further - this will avoid any offence and me getting stoned when I turn up at the CR on Saturday.

Do this ride first thing in the morning and on an empty stomach.

Ride for 1 Hour at your Aneorobic Threshold (approx 85% max HR) or just below.

When finished, take on carbohydrate and protein immediately. Likewise, if you power output starts to drop significantly or you feel youself "bonking", stop and eat.

Why?

Energy depletion is the most potent stimulator of mitochondria growth (mitochondria are tiny organs in cells which release energy - the more the better).

Training at this level, the maximum number of mitochondria containing muscle fibers will be recruited.

Induce maximum capillary growth (the blood vessels that deliver oxygen and energy to your muscles).

A stronger more efficeint heart.

[Andrew G]

Sounds like good old retro starvation training.

[Sylv]

That's what the cavemen used to do innit Andrew?

[-Adam-]

I think Michele Bartoli or someone of his generation or earlier used to go training at a hard pace, so that after 6hours he would not physically be able to ride any further. At which point he would phone his wife for a lift home. He would then eat normally. This would continue up to the thursday evening of a week leading up to a race like the tour of flanders. Then on the saturday he would stuff his face full of carbs and protein.

The net result, he is so carbed up for the sunday he kicks ass and wins de ronde!

Who's gonna try this one for me?

[Robh]

There's an article in bikeradar saying the same sort of thing :-

http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/articl ... mpty-18071

[kieran]

or here's training Dan Martin style:

"Martin's coach, Adri Van Diemen, knows how to get the best out of his riders. He was coach to Greg LeMond and currently works with several other Garmin Chipotle riders. "The training is just...well, it is stupidly hard, but every bit that you put in always gives benefits. The harder you train, the better you'll ride.

"I have always said that there isn't much rocket science behind training, it is just a case of going hard. But Adri seems to get the best out of me. His training style isn't that different to what I used to do, when I used to train on my own, but that is why it is quite interesting... he fitted with me straight away, and I didn't have any problem taking on the ideas because I knew that they worked already. "

From [url]http://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/2008/interviews/?id=daniel_martin_oct08[/url]