Training for Cross Country Mountain Bike Racing
A cross country MTB specific training plan will help improve your fitness, develop technical and tactical skills, and achieve results. MTB XC training plans are built around a solid understanding of the discipline. Guidance will help you build fitnes, get stronger & avoid injury
I don’t use ‘off the shelf’ training plans. And this is not just training for fitness. Technical training is absolutely key to help riders achieve peak performance. And this is built into training sessions.
Your tailored training plan
- Effective: maximise your time to be a stronger and more resilient rider
- Goals: set progressive, meaningful objectives and see the results
- Fitness: develop the aerobic and muscular fitness to race at the intensity that cross country demands
- Skills: hone the XC specific technical skills through your training
- Tactics: build tactical awareness to exploit your strengths in races
- Bike: optimise the set up of your bike and other equipment for consistent high performance
- Strength and conditioning: use cycling-specific strength plans to build power and endurance, and to avoid injury
- Recovery: balance the physiological stress of training with sleep, wellness and wellbeing
- Nutrition: choose the right nutrition to fuel and optimise your body composition
Strength and conditioning
Strength training is useful for mountain bikers, to build robustness & movement skills. Strength plans are included in all packages. Riders are required to take part in a face-to-face strength training session - this is to check your technique and ensure you’re approaching the plan safely. But this can be done remotely.
Coaching process
- Consultation: discuss goals, fitness levels, performance and current training challenges
- Benchmarking: establish a baseline for your current performance and set meaningful objectives
- Individualised training: coaching is delivered using Training Peaks, alongside face-to-face coaching and virtual support.
- Evaluation and results: monitor progress according to your objectives, informing training and technical/tactical guidance.
My racing credentials
I have multi-disciplinary race experience which I bring to life through coaching. Read more about my race experience and results.