training mistakes Irish cycling — *We all want to get better on the bike, but what are the best tips we can take from how the professionals get themselves into their best shape for racing?*

In this video some of the presenters from Global Cycling Network have contacted pro cyclists to ask them for the training secret to their success.

One of the presenters is Chris Opie, a former British pro rider who won plenty of races, and his tip is the most detailed.

He said as soon as he worked out a 1,000kj workload was an average of 280 Watts for one hour he always tried to maintain that for his 5-7 hour endurance rides.

On these rides he would maintain a cadence of 85-90 and when he did one of these rides he would always win a race within a few weeks.

Matej Mohorič (Bahrain-Merida) said he always used the lightest and fastest kit he could find because it motivated him more when training.

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However, on the other end of the scale, 2004 Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Bäckstedt said he trained on the heaviest bike he could source.

And he even filled bottles with led to make the bike heavier (so he could feel the advantage when he switched to his racing bike, one assumes).

Lizzie Deignan said she doesn't start training until November 1st each winter. And she doesn't use power to train until December 1st.

Adam Blythe (Lotto-Soudal) favours five-hour training rides in Zone 3 during which he is sure to press the pace all the time.

Tao Geoghegan Hart of Team Ineos said the secret was 90-minute training rides at very low intensity; allowing his body to recover from, and adapt to, harder training.