How do world class top 5 Giro d'Italia finishers train? A qualitative multiple case study.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Retrospective multiple case study without a control group.
PubMed 35686390 · doi:10.1111/sms.14201
What was done
A retrospective case study analyzed day-to-day power meter training and racing data over the 22 weeks (December to May) leading to a top 5 general classification finish at the Giro d'Italia in three world-class road cyclists (ages: 26, 27, 25 years; relative VO2max: 81, 82, 80 ml/min/kg; 20-minute record power output: 6.6, 6.6, 6.4 W/kg). Weekly volume, three-zone intensity distribution, altitude exposure, tapering, and strength training were evaluated.
What was found
Cyclists completed 17, 22, and 29 races, with average weekly training volumes of 19.7 (SD 7.9), 16.2 (SD 7.0), and 14.7 (SD 6.2) hours. Training intensity distribution in zone 1-zone 2-zone 3 was 91.3%-6.5%-2.2%, 83.6%-10.6%-5.8%, and 86.7%-8.9%-4.4%, reflecting a pyramidal model. High-intensity volume and polarization index increased in race weeks. Two cyclists spent 55 and 39 days at altitude while one did not attend altitude camps. Tapering was dictated by race schedules, and none of the three cyclists performed strength training during the 22-week period.
Why it matters
This study provides rare, real-world power data documenting the training structure and pyramidal intensity distributions of podium-level Grand Tour contenders.
Limits
The sample is limited to only three male cyclists in a purely descriptive, retrospective case study without a control group, causal inference, or non-cycling physiological monitoring.
Cited by
- partial Elite endurance athletes typically train with an 80/20 intensity distribution, consisting of approximately 80% low-to-moderate intensity training and 20% high-intensity training across 25 to 30 hours per week.