Daniel Stewart is facing into the hardest year of his career yet after signing for continental squad An Post Chain Reaction for 2016.
The 20 year-old Belfast man is back into the swing of winter training and here, in the latest of our ‘My Training Week’ series, he lifts the lid on what he’s doing.#
Here is what Stewart has done in the last week.
- Name: Daniel Stewart
- Team: Hennebont Cycling Team (An Post Chain Reaction for 2016)
- Date of birth: 24-11-1994
- Weight & height: 70kg, 179 cm
Training goals this time of the year
- Get back to race weight which is around 67/68 kilos
- Get power figures back
- Be in shape ready for upcoming training camps (early December and mid-late January)
General goals for the year
- To gain selection for An Post's top races next year
- Get on podium in the time-trial or the road race national championships
- Gain selection for U23 World Championships if we get enough points
Stewart looks cool as a cucumber prior to the European U23 road race championships in Tartu, Estonia back in August. (Picture thanks to Vincent O'Connor)
Monday
I just got back from an excellent Dave Rayner Fund dinner in Leeds the night before so I loosened the legs out after three days of heavy travelling with an hour or so exploring some routes in the Surrey Hills, close to where my girlfriend lives.
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Tuesday
I did 4 hours today, just trying to keep the power on throughout to get the most out of the session.
I always include a few sprints so the sharpness going into the racing season isn't all lost!
It was a headwind out so I just found all the secondary roads for 2 hours 15 minutes and worked out finding my way back. It's a sin to go do a U-turn and go back the way you came, plus, a bit of adventure always makes the long rides go a lot quicker.
Thank God for GoogleMaps !
Wednesday
I got up early to go to the gym.
I take advantage of the winter to do things I can't do when I'm back racing, such as heavy strength work.
I stretch after every ride but after my gym workout I spend more time trying to get as much tension out of my muscles as possible.
I find stretching makes hard sessions slightly-less-hard sessions.
Thursday
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I made the most of the rolling Surrey roads by doing zone 2 with zone 3 on the hills for 2.5 hours.
With humongous country estates and countless supercars there are plenty of distractions to steer you away from your screaming legs.
Friday
Today was another 4-5 hour ride.
When in London I like to get the bulky work out of the way during the week to free as much time up at the weekend.
This session is similar to Tuesday only I try to right my navigational wrongs!
Saturday
I was back in the gym today.
As an impatient imbecile, I always go at optimal off-peak times.
In London this is a lot harder to do but in Belfast I find either just after 9am or an hour before closing is best to get the work done without waiting.
I was in the gym for 8am this Saturday and I got the job done with minimal hindrances.
Sunday
I just did a quick hour at zone 2 on the gym bike to push all the lactate out of my body from a hard week.
It's a fixie spin bike which I find is really good for your cadence.
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