My Training Week - ASEA's Chris Reilly's mid-week & pre-race miles | Sticky Bottle

Chris Reilly was one of a select few county riders to make an impact at the An Post Rás last year, getting in the breakaway on the final day.

The Bohermeen man is a really strong climber and can hold his own in the toughest races.

The 30-year-old is with Team ASEA this season and under the guidance of his teammate and coach Bryan McCrystal he’s optimistic of having a good year.

The team got off to a winning start at the Cycleways Cup in Navan last Sunday week when Damien Shaw bagged their first victory but Reilly will want to make his own stamp on things when he gets into form.

Name: Chris Reilly
Team: Team ASEA
Date of birth: 13th September 1984
Weight & height: 69kg, 5ft 10inches (180cm)

Training goals this time of the year

Right now I’m working on my speed without trying to lose out on too many base miles, so getting this balance is the key at this time of the year.

General goals for the year

I just want to win a Sunday race, I don’t care where it is or who is there.

I also want to do something in the An Post Rás and just make all the effort I put in worthwhile.

You can have all the goals you want but when you’re on form you really just have to take the bull by the horns and win.

Reilly won the Ballivor GP last June riding for the Liquidworx squad but has since transferred to Team ASEA and is hoping for another good season, with the An Post Rás his big target.

Monday

Today I did two hours on the road at an easy pace after what was a hard weekend of training and racing.

Usually I do this session in either zones 1 or 2 and follow it with some stretching.

Tuesday

I had a long day at work so I did nothing at all. I just chilled out and went to bed early.

Wednesday

Tonight I went out on the road for a night ride of three hours including a couple of light intervals.

Thursday

Out for a night ride again; a two-hour ride with some hills this evening.

Friday

Tonight’s session was quite specific so I went to the gym to complete it on the wattbike; this allows me monitor my power closely.

In total I did an hour and a half.

The session was broken down as follows; 30 minute warm-up; 2x3minutes above threshold with three minutes rest; 3x2 minutes above and beyond threshold with 2 minutes rest; 6 x 1 minute above and way beyond threshold.

And at the end I did a cool down period.

Saturday

As I was racing the following day I did two hours of race preparation.

I got out as early as I could and did 15 and 25 minute sweet spot efforts based on how I felt and for the remainder of the day I just tried to stay off my feet as much as I could.

And got the food into me as well!