ELLE & G4 - Episode 3: First round

Here’s episode three of ELLE & G4, featuring Geoffroy Lequatre and Morgane Moinard. The former professional rider has taken on the task of preparing Morgane, a seasoned athlete, for The www.parisnicechallenge.com/us/">Paris-Nice Challenge which will take place in four weeks. Get to know the pair of them by clicking here.

This time around, Morgane and Geoffroy are undertaking their first typical training week which involves around three rides a week of two to three and a half hours in duration. In the case of Morgane, it’s important to take into account her other sporting activities occasioned by her work and hobbies.

The challenge is to integrate these three outings into an already busy schedule which becomes more difficult during inclement weather. Let’s see what our two athletes have to say about it.

ELLE & G4: Bad weather

G: No luck today because of the weather. I didn’t expect the weather to play such a part but you need to be ready for anything, even on the Cote d’Azur. But we’re well dressed to combat the weather and truly motivated which is what really counts. You’re in good shape today, even with these damp roads.

M: Well, yes, when I have a goal in mind I always give 200%. It wasn’t easy to find time in my schedule for this ride. So let’s go!

G: We must be more vigilant on the road in these conditions. We’ll just ride for two hours today, that’ll be enough. Let’s focus on quality over quantity and undertake some strengthening exercises. We’ll work on your power output, using a slightly larger gear and lower cadence. What did you think of riding with 52/17 gear ratio?

M: It wasn’t too much of an effort for my muscles; my legs were only painful in the last five minutes of the second session.

G: You’ve done well and should feel proud of your efforts in 9°C in the Niçois hinterland. Brrr, it’s cold, let’s get back into the warm after two hours of effort.

Once back in the warm, Geoffroy expresses his concerns to Morgane at the weather forecast for the coming week.

G: So I’ve had to revise the latter part of the programme on account of the bad weather this week-end. You have to be able to enjoy what you’re doing, even during the preparation phase. Let’s find another physically enduring activity for this week-end as preparation for the www.parisnicechallenge.com/us/">Paris-Nice Challenge this weekend. I know you like trail running so I looked at the events in the area and bingo! The Valberg SnowTrail looks as if it would be a super and enjoyable training experience. Moreover, given you’ll undertake several disciplines, it’s the perfect solution. It’ll also keep you mentally fresh which is ideal.

Valberg Snow Trail

Here they are at more 1600m altitude at the start of the Valberg snow trail. See the route here.

After finishing the race completed under sunny conditions, our two athletes finish the day by skiing with their families. The following day, Morgane runs through the forest for 30 minutes, taking advantage to run with her kids in a relaxed fashion and alleviate any stiffness from the previous day’s 14km trail. A real fighter!

That’s all for now, we’ll meet again at the start of next week for the next episode where Morgane will undertake more physical training sessions before a week of well-earned recuperation.