Danish climber talks discipline and diet
Saxo Bank rider Chris Anker Sorensen has spoken about the importance of trying to prevent post-season weight gain, saying that he has been continuing to train and to try to control his food intake so as not to make things too difficult in trying to get back to top shape.
He has used the example of 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich to illustrate what happens when the required discipline is not there. The German rider was regarded as one who was capable of winning several Tours, but never stood on top of the podium again after his first victory.
“November’s the time of the year when we do not train as much. Some riders do virtually nothing, but I do a bit so that there will not be too many kilos on the ribs,” he wrote in his blog on Sporten.dk. “I can remember a rider such as Jan Ullrich – over the winter, he put on too many kilos and endured that virtually the whole season.”
According to Sorensen, some gain is to be expected, but the trick is to try to limit the amount. “Putting on a bit can’t be avoided, even if you eat healthily. After all, we are accustomed to eating 4-5000 calories daily, so it is difficult to drop it be half going from one week to another,” he said. “In addition, I must admit that I eat things in the month of November that I don’t have during the season. I have a weakness for Ritter Sport chocolate and when there are deals [special prices] on them at the same time, it makes it extra hard.”
Still, to stave off the effects of chocolate, he keeps working. He is doing some training on the bike, and also some other training. “I really like to run. I think it is a good alternative for training in the winter. Even if it rains and it is cold, I can easily keep warm when I run, which is very hard on a bike. Although I wrap up so that I look like the Michelin man,” he said.
For he and other professionals, this time of the year is very important. Not just in terms of balancing work and rest, but also in getting day to day stuff done. They are away for much of the season and even when at home, their life is based around training and resting. Sorensen said that he did twelve hours training over a seven day period, versus 30 hours during the season; as a result, he is using the free time to get some other things done.
He will remain with the Saxo Bank-Sungard team in 2011, but is moving house. That too occupies him and, with the first training camp beginning at the end of the month, he needs to get as much done as possible before then.
Sorensen is one example of what many professionals are doing. Twenty to thirty years ago, pro riders would relax once the season ended and turn up at the January training camps overweight and in poor shape. Now, with increased professional, a higher overall standard and a longer racing season, there simply isn’t the opportunity to let the hair down too much. Remaining in decent shape in the off season prevents a lot of unnecessary toil in the run-up to the Tour de France, as Jan Ullrich became all too aware of during his career.
Sorensen also has an additional reason to stay sharp: with doubt hanging over Alberto Contador, there’s a chance that he could be team leader in next year’s Tour de France. He is already due to lead the team at the Giro d’Italia, although Richie Porte might also find himself being given big opportunities.