TAKE A BREAK?

Should you follow the pros and take an end-of-season break from cycling? Rob Kemp tackles the tricky business of scheduling downtime for busy amateurs

- Rob Kemp

It's over for me now; I'm going on the piss for the next two months," Geraint Thomas joked at the end of this year's Giro d'Italia. OK, that wasn't really the Welshman's plan for the rest of the summer, but there was a kernel of truth underlying his comment: once the last big race is out of the way, many elite riders have a lay-off period, when they let cut loose and catch up on the rest and leisure they've missed out on.

"These guys have been under a huge amount of stress, both physiological and psychological during the whole season," explains Vasilis Anastopoulos, team coach with Soudal-Quick Step who works with the likes of Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe. "Many have been away from their families for close to 200 days of the year, so they definitely need the break."

The concept of an off-season break, often embraced by professional riders, raises an intriguing question: Do amateurs need to take an off-season break too?

"Even if you're not riding at an elite level, you should be listening to your body - and take breaks of two to three weeks, just like the pros do," advises Anastopoulos. "Especially if your morning heart rate is elevated, you find yourself feeling tired all the time, or you don't have the appetite to get dressed and go out riding - all sure-fire signs that you need a break." The pro coach has a simple brief for his charges when it comes to the end-of-season break. "I tell my riders to have three to four weeks off the bike. Go hiking or go swimming or play sports with friends - just be careful to avoid injury. Some will go mountain biking, but I tell them not to do any structured training and to leave their road bike in the garage."

Sojourn from the saddle