Performance
How to Structure Your Winter Training for an Epic Spring Cycling Camp
August 15, 2026
5 min read
How to Structure Your Winter Training for an Epic Spring Cycling Camp
Joining a spring cycling camp guarantees you'll rack up serious kilometers, conquer legendary climbs, and boost your fitness. But to fully enjoy every ride without risking overtraining or injury by day two, your trip's success depends on a solid winter foundation.
Whether you're targeting our spring 2027 camps or preparing for your first seasonal goals, here's a step-by-step guide to building a resilient winter base.
1. Plan the Base Phase: Develop Endurance (December - January)
Winter isn't about stacking intense workouts. It's the ideal time to build your "engine":
- Low-intensity volume (Zone 2): Prioritize long rides at a steady pace to develop capillary density and teach your body to use fat as fuel.
- Cross-training: Don't hesitate to mix in MTB, gravel, running, or swimming to maintain cardiovascular fitness while preserving your mental freshnees.
2. Incorporate Strength Training and Core Work
To handle the climbs of the Serra de Tramuntana, leg strength alone isn't enough:
- Core (abdominal and lower back): A strong core prevents lower back pain after 4 or 5 consecutive hours in the saddle.
- Targeted strengthening: Squats, lunges, and hip mobility work improve pedaling efficiency and prevent muscle imbalances.
3. Optimize Training with Science: The Cycling Lab Geneva Edge
To avoid riding "blind" and maximize every hour spent on the bike, physiological testing and bike fit are key levers.
Through our partner lab Cycling Lab Geneva (cyclinglabgeneve.ch), cyclists in the Geneva and western Switzerland/French region benefit from top-tier scientific coaching:
- Effort Test & VO2max with Calorimetry: Precisely determine your ventilatory thresholds (VT1/VT2), your maximum oxygen consumption, and your exact training zones (heart rate and power in watts).
- Postural Analysis (Bike Fit): A poor saddle position replicated over hundreds of kilometers can cause knee, neck, or foot pain. A millimetric biomechanical adjustment guarantees optimal power transfer and absolute comfort.
The Biketours.cc Bonus: Don't live near Geneva? No problem! Upon request, we can conduct physiological evaluations and biomechanical adjustments directly during our cycling camps (including during your stays in Majorca).
4. Refine Intensity Before the Big Ride (February - March)
A few weeks out from your camp:
- Reintroduce targeted intensities: Sweet Spot sessions, threshold intervals, and cadence work (speed and force on the trainer).
- Simulate elevation: If your local weather doesn't allow mountain riding, virtual platforms (Zwift, Rouvy) let you train resistance on long virtual climbs.
Why Choose Biketours.cc?
A well-structured preparation combined with precise biomechanical analysis is the key to arriving at your camps in peak condition.
Based near Geneva? Book your physiological assessment or bike fit at cyclinglabgeneve.ch.
Ready to prepare for your 2027 cycling camp? Contact the Biketours.cc team directly to design your personalized training plan.