Training - Part 1 - Interview with Jean-Baptiste Quiclet

Today the priority is to take a step back and give meaning to our daily life to slow down the epidemic and stay at home. There will be a second time when the situation will be simpler to work specifically for our future goals.

How do you live this situation?

At the same time, the situation is extraordinary from a logistical point of view. We have never encountered anything like this before. And at the same time, we coaches are used to working remotely, teleworking, never having daily contact with the athletes. So this remote relationship is not new to us when it comes to implementing programs for riders. It's not much different from winter training.

What steps did the team take?

The priority is simply to ensure the health of our riders the team. It's really about physical and athletic maintenance. It's more of a transitional situation than a phase of development or optimal preparation. The team has decided to give the riders time riders prepare for lockdown with their families from a logistical point of view and so that they can take time to look after their families for 15 days.

How did you adapt the training programs?

Each coach is responsible for 7-8 riders individually. They are in daily contact. Through our coach and physical trainer Stephen Barrett, we have set up a daily or almost daily weight training program for the athletes. We have also set up home trainer sessions, and today's technology helps us a lot with guided and even controlled sessions. All our training data is synchronized on our training platform, which allows us to accurately monitor the progress of our riders condition. We have set up two group training sessions on a virtual platform, on Thursdays and Saturdays, closed to the team, so that they can ride together and maintain social ties with everyone.

How do you manage to motivate the riders

That's the coach's job. To break up the monotony of training as much as possible. That means varying the exercises, always providing a common thread, and setting specific goals for the day. It's important to stay close to them so they don't feel isolated. The organization had already set up regular contact with a coach or sports director.