We understand that one of the biggest considerations when booking an Italian cycling holiday is how much preparation is required, and then deciding whether you’ll have the capacity to do the training, amongst your other work and family obligations. Here we share our thoughts and experience on a few options for you to consider, and also some insights into how different guests approach the pre-tour preparation phase.
It goes without saying that your pre-tour preparation is the cornerstone of just how much you will enjoy your Italian cycling tour as it is about knowing that your legs and your mind are ready for all the kms and for the magical Italian hills.
In this blog, we will break down some tips and advice to help you prepare for your cycling holiday in Italy.
How to Train for a Cycling Holiday in Italy
All of our trips are physically challenging, with some more so than others. Whichever cycling tour you choose, you’ll need a moderate level of fitness and to be comfortable riding back-to-back days.
There’s no single “best” way to prepare for a cycling holiday. Over the years, we’ve seen guests using a few different approaches. Each one suits a different training style, schedule and level of comfort with technology. Here are the three cycling training options we’ve seen work well.
Option #1. Engaging a personal trainer/coach.
This has the personal touch and gives you someone to be accountable to. This can either be done at an indoor training studio, where you are with your trainer, or on the road with you sharing your data. The approach will depend on the coach and level of service they offer, but it is fair to say that for tour guests who adopt this approach, they always enjoy the riding on tour, with consistency and accountability the key to their success.
Option #2 Use technology.
Convenient and measurable, using one of the many indoor training apps such as Rouvy, Trainer Road, Bkool, zwift and Wahoo SYSTM or the newer AI coaching apps, can be a fantastic tool to assist your personal training program pre-tour. The indoor training option is great as it takes out cold weather, rain and darkness as reasons not to train when it’s winter at home, and you’ll soon be cycling and holidaying in summer. It’s also good if the terrain around home is flatter and you’ve booked an Italian tour in the hills or mountains, and need to add 1000m+ to your training rides.
Many of our guests live in flat areas and still arrive ready by building their climbing strength before they get to Italy.
An app like Rouvy primarily has high quality and nicely shot videos, together with the functionality for you to ride alone or with other users. They also have ride workouts based on time and intensity, and even Pro-team rider personal favourites that are paired to different ride videos. It makes for an engaging training experience and definitely helps with motivation.
The Wahoo SYSTM app has many different options within their platform. They have a library of videos that are split into categories of landscapes to ride, inspirational videos, footage from Pro races, cycling documentaries, workouts, and tests. In addition to the cycling focus, they also offer programs for running and swimming, and then also strength and mobility exercises, yoga and mental training (breathing exercises and meditation). This is an app that will also create a plan for you, be it for a tour, an event, or for you to ride faster, further or climb stronger. It is an incredibly versatile option, where there is really something for everyone.
Using an AI app like Join.cc can also be a great solution as it provides an adaptive program which adapts with your changing behaviour and goals. You will need a minimum of a heart rate monitor or a power meter to get started, and then the app will create a specific program for you for your multi-day road cycling tour.
We had a guest who has previously used this and in his words “I put in my goal and it gives me structured workouts, leading up to the big week. I’m 9 weeks into the program and have progressed quite a bit. It is adaptive so if you miss a day, or do an extra activity, it takes that into account. And it keeps me from over-training by forcing recovery days”.
While some of the technology approaches do slot in rest days to avoid over training, this doesn’t take into account that when you’re on tour, you will be riding 7-9 days back to back, so it is something to keep in mind with any technology generated training program.
Option #3 Create your own training camp
This 3rd option is a little more old school as it is about taking the time to create your own training camp, whether it be for yourself or with a group. This is about removing yourself from your day-to-day, going to a new location and riding multiple days back to back, with plenty of elevation to mirror the terrain that you’ll soon be riding. We have in the past had guests ride the same distances and elevation of the tour for an 8 day training block pre-tour, and when they arrived they were flying. We know that not everyone has the time or capacity to do this, but it does demonstrate that when you do train in blocks of back-to-back days, it prepares the legs and the mind well for the challenge ahead.
We also share how to build up to this in our endurance training tips blog post.
Find which approach best suits you
The best approach is the one you’ll actually stick with. Think about how much time you have, whether you’re motivated by accountability, data or simply getting out on the road, and what the terrain is like where you live. Many riders find that a mix of approaches works best.
To share Damian’s approach, it is a mix of old school training blocks in the hills because he has the time and it’s more fun, coupled with specific days on the trainer with his favourite app, Rouvy. This adds some big chunks of elevation to the weekly stats, particularly as it gets closer to the start of the first tour.
Our Top Cycling Holiday Preparation Advice
If you only remember a few things from this guide, make it these:
- Choose the approach that suits your life. And which you’ll stick to.
Start early. Give yourself at least 12-16 weeks to build your fitness gradually, with room for busy weeks and missed rides. - Train for the tour you’ve picked. If your tour has big climbs, add elevation to your rides, indoors if you need to.
- Ride back-to-back days.
- Don’t forget recovery.
Ease off before you leave. Finish the bulk of your training about a week out so you arrive in Italy fresh and ready to enjoy every kilometre. - Don’t forget your non-training preparation. For example, what to pack for the holiday, whether you’ll hire a bike or bring your own bike internationally, and other ways you can maximise your holiday.
If you’re unsure which one is right for you and how much fitness is required, our Levels & Ride Difficulty guide explains what each tour involves. We’re also happy to help you decide.
If you’d like to join us on one of our Italian cycling tours and need some guidance on how to plan your pre-tour preparation, click here to send Damian an email or read a few more of our blog on this topic – Tour Preparation.
