Words James Ion
Let me introduce you to GRVL Magazine's newest feature - Project NICE! Over the next nine months, I will attempt to get into shape to qualify for the UCI Gravel World Championships in Nice, France in 2025. Along the way, I will document the process through the magazine using blogs, vlogs, and content across our social media platforms. It won't be easy, but then nothing worth it ever is!
Anyone who races a bike, be it against your mates to the next street sign, or pinning on a number, dreams about riding at a world championships yet not everyone does. Things get in the way, and we don't all have time to train 30 hours a week or we don't even know where to start. This got me thinking, what could an average rider, who has limited time to train achieve with the right support and the right knowledge. Could I qualify for the Gravel World Championships?
Each week I will cover the different aspects of my training, nutrition, equipment and strength routine, and I will document how I am feeling and progressing. There will be interviews and training days with GRVL Pro’s so I can get advice and insider tips from the best in the world.
There are a few caveats though, I like you have a family, work, a dog and 100 other commitments going on so the training has to fit in with my life, not the other way around. I have a maximum of 10 hours a week to train, and that is not going to be every week, sometimes it will have to be less so the training has to be flexible and adaptable to my situation. Everything has to be realistic, it has to fit with a typical lifestyle otherwise it is just not feasible. This should also make it easier for you to apply these methods to your own training so that you can achieve your goals, whatever they may be.
However, I won’t be alone in this.
I have enlisted the help of World Tour Coach Toms Flaksis who will be applying his years of experience to my cycling and strength training. Toms serves as the head coach of the Latvian national team at the World Championships, and the Olympics and has coached World Tour riders to success. He is the head trainer of TF Coaching and has worked with all levels of riders turning amateur riders like me into success stories. Throughout the project, Toms will be providing not only my training plan but also invaluable insight into my results and be there to guide me through the good and bad times.
Also joining the team is Elite Gravel Racer and top nutritionist, Kate Macleod. Kate has been racing bikes ever since she stopped her rowing career and has gone from strength to strength culminating in representing GB at this year's Gravel World Championships. Alongside her racing, she runs KM Health and Lifestyle guiding athletes to perform better with real-world sensible nutrition that works for the individual athlete. Kate will be keeping an eye on my nutrition and keeping me on track, from the initial on boarding phase to the regular updates and advice so that my training is fuelled the right way giving me every chance to qualify, she also says that cake is allowed!
To aid my progress I have some great partners onboard.
HRSH Gravel Apparel are supplying me with their excellent racing kit. Handmade in Italy with European fabric the design not only looks good it is ethically and environmentally produced to exceptional standards, as part of the support HRSH are offering 20% offer all our readers with the code James20
Wahoo is helping me take my training to the next level with its range of cycling electronics. They will support the project with their Elemnt Range, so I can seamlessly transfer my training plan to use out on the road.
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