Around Lake Taupo Race report

General
1

Race Report

TLDR: Road bike race around Lake Taupo, NZ. 161km, hilly.

2023: after a few months on Athletica (Garmin DSW 6 months before that), 225W FTP:
5:24 hrs, top 1/3 age and overall
165 HR avg, 159 W Avg, 187 W MP4, 295 Load, 3098 kJ, 1% mWR

2024: All year on Athletica, 250W FTP:
5:08 hrs, top 1/4 age and overall
161 HR avg, 160 W Avg, 201 W MP4, 325 Load, 2964 kJ, -10% mWR

Details:

So, faster, lower HR, more power and load. Felt about the same intensity if not less this year. Recovery this year was basically within hours, that night pretty much right, no sore legs overnight like last year, and basically back to normal the next day.

The build up wasn’t perfect, I had 3 wks overseas, I was trying hotel gyms and the odd short run when I could, about 6 wks out. Pretty much followed the Athletica Mid plan the last month though and the rest of the year.

Over our winter here, from July onwards, I started going to the gym, and substituted sessions on rainy days with hard weight sessions instead, which did drop my max power on the bike from sore legs the following days. The last 6 weeks, I’ve reduced the gym leg sets, done on Monday recovery day, to allow bike sessions to take priority.

So not strictly following the plan over winter, but as much as I could otherwise.

I think Athletica really got me well trained without wearing me out, just as promised. 2023 Taupo was my first organised event, on my first real road bike, as a 48 yr old, and it’s nice to still see definite improvement this year. I’m gunning for under 5 hrs next year.

I did get cramp for the first time ever on a bike with about 1/3 of the race to go, not sure what caused this, inside quads, possibly the same muscle that really feels squats at the gym, so might have been worn out from the new demands placed on it the last few months and race environment. I’ll talk to a PT about that.

So great overall, some local races next year, awesome fun and thanks for a wonderful system!

Cheers Andre M, NZ.

4 Likes
2

Hey Andre,
That’s just so cool to read and thanks for posting. Sounds like you were able to dig deeper into the high intensity regions and you were well conditioned to do so (quick recovery). That Taupo is a special place and hope the land of the long white cloud was connecting with you that day… I reckon sub-5 is definitely within reach.
Best,
Paul

3 Likes
3

Wow :star_struck: this is AMAZING :star_struck:

Fast recovery like yours speaks to the depth of fitness you have been able to build with Athletica’s plan with some really good heavy weight training sprinkled in, without carrying excessive fatigue. Typically when an athlete is burning the candle on both ends, recovery from hard long efforts takes days. I’ve personally also noticed faster recovery after big events that can only be explained by the deep fitness that comes with smarter training.

Congrats! Time for break or more races in your schedule for rest of the season over on that side ?

MJ

3 Likes
4

Excellent riding, Andre! You did what you could with the training and nailed the race. Sounds like a lot of fun!

3 Likes
5

Hi team,

Thanks for all this. No doubt my upper end power has been slowly ticking up, but the endurance and recovery is very much improved, both after a ride, and during after a climb or interval.

I’m really enjoying your podcast as well. From a new road cyclist, your podcast, as well as others (along with youtube and reddit) have taught me almost all I know about cycling and fitness.

I’m probably not quite as ‘zen like’ as you guys with nutrition, but I do wake up, have a coffee and can do any workout for upto 2.5 hours easily. Over that I do have 80g carb/h of sugar, which seems to allow all day peddling.

There is no doubt, I’m fitter than I’ve ever been, the ease of having the Athletica workout on my Garmin in the cold, dark, forgetful mornings as part of the routine is invaluable, I just do what I’m told. Workout wizard is great too with swapping out longer rides when family and other hobbies need attention too, 40/20’s are definate gasp enducers.

Upping my protien and refueling after a ride I think have also been big gain inducers.

I have had some fights with Athletica, mainly over load’s especially during the DB move, but it has generally worked well.

There are plenty of events around, a good scene down here, one in March and another in May I’ll aim for.

Cheers, Andre

3 Likes
6

Thanks for the feedback - we appreciate YOU :two_hearts:

1 Like
7

Hi @AMNZ

I did the Taupo challenge this year (2 years ago I did the 80k gravel one) as I am in NZ for the 70.3 WC. I can work remotely few months per year so I took this opportunity to spend 2.5 months in NZ.

I am impressed by your performance under some rain at the start, the wind on the way back and the chipseal road! As a French living in California, it was different, even if the Cali road can be worse than NZ road in chipseal!

I did it with my brand new Canyon Areoroad with integrated tribar (which I mounted 2 days before the race).

My performance, I kind of race it touristically stopping for few pictures, to refuel
2024 : All year on Athletica, 240W FTP:
5:52 total, 5:32 moving , 64/216 in my AG
Moving: 111 HR avg, 188 W Avg, 201 W MP4, 312 Load, 3,784 kJ, 8% mWR, moving avg speed 17.87m/hr=28.7km/hr. I am 61 years old and weight 68kg

I did 46 miles on the 70.3 bike course yesterday and pushed more (19.7m/hr=31.4 km/hr, MP4: 223W, HR 120 ), but it is hard to go fast on these roads. With such power and no wind, I would have expected 22m/hr=35km/hr. I inflated my tire at 45 psi/3.1 bar for both the Taupo challenge and the 70.3 recon.

Anyway, I am really happy to be here and I am here for the experience. NZ is beautiful and people are really nice.

Best

Jerome

3 Likes
8

Good luck in the race @Jerome !!! :muscle:

1 Like