Phases of Periodization

General Preparation Period

The primary objective of the general preparation phase is aerobic conditioning and strength development. The workouts establish a sold foundation for the coming year and might include cross training. The volume of training is relatively low ( relative to other training periods ) as is the intensity.The volume should be gradually increased over the preparation period. The general preparation period is a good time to work on skill development.

Specialized Preparation Period

Increased volume and intensity are typical for this period. However, the exact increases in each need to be weighed so that both ane not dramatically increased simultaneously. The amount of training off the bike is reduced in most cases as activities become more cycling related. Strength training should be maintained. Races during this period are often training races or races that are used for higher intensity workouts; these races might be used to augment training but should not interfere with the goals of training. As with any period, regeneration needs to be part of the plan.

Competition Period

Conditioning should approach top form as the competitions become more challenging. Races early in this period should also be used for training purposes with actual race performances being a lower priority. Late in this period, training volume is often reduced but intensity remains high. Regeneration should not be ignored and becomes critical in this stage because of the demands of training and racing.

Transition Period

The focus of the transition period is a chance to recharge the batteries both physically and mentally. Activities at this time focus on easy riding, light aerobic training and cross training without being competitive. Traditionally, a transition period follows the season although a very short transition period might be included in the schedule following a major race.