IAM Cycling will train with eight riders at altitude to prepare for upcoming stage races

IAM Cycling will be engaged on several fronts at the beginning of April.  Aside from the renowned spring classics like the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and Amstel Gold Race, as well as the Spanish Tour of the Basque Country, there will be eight riders from the Swiss cycling team focusing on altitude training that will be held in the Sierra Nevada beginning on April 2^nd.

Manager sportif, Rik Verbrugghe, explains the reasons.  “Regarding the racing calendar, at this time of year, but also at a couple other periods in the season, there are little blanks in terms of races that could help riders prepare for the major three week tours like the Giro and the Tour.  That’s why we have to fit in three special camps this season.  It is therefore no coincidence that Mathias Frank, our leader for the Tour de France, will also participate in all three.  But they also give all our guys the chance to progress and improve with future races in mind.”

Marcello Albasini, one of the team’s coaches, will be in charge of the upcoming camp, and he emphasizes the team’s overall objectives.  “The guys will stay between 12 and 20 days at an altitude of around 2300 meters.  We will drive down the mountain in cars to do training rides through the plains and flat lands, but still with challenges along the way to overcome before we return to the top of the Sierra Nevada.  The goal will be to work on endurance by using intervals in order to improve the anaerobic threshold.  For instance, if I devise a 15 minute period, the rider will have to be 75% of the time just under threshold and 25% of the time just over.”

Team IAM Cycling
Stef Clement (NL), Thomas Degand (Bel), Mathias Frank (S), Sondre Holst Enger (Nor), Jarlinson Pantano (Col), Simon Pellaud (S), Matteo Pelucchi (It), Marcel Wyss (S).