Elle & G4 - Episode 4: The defining week

Today it’s time for episode four of the ELLE & G4 story. We’re honouring women in sport in this series which features 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 three weeks. If you want to know more about them, see their profiles here.

As a reminder, their weekly program revolves around three bike rides per week, from 2 to 3 1/2h duration. This time around, Morgane and Geoffroy had a week of intensive training. Both of them went all out on their programmed rides. They completed almost 10 hours of riding this week, in addition to their usual daily sporting activities. As a reward, Morgane has a well-deserved week of rest and recuperation. However, let’s backtrack to their first ride of the week with G4 Ambassador, Matthieu Converset.

Elle & G4: Morgane VS Matthieu Converset

Geoffroy: So Morgane, what did you think about last week’s training sessions? And how do you feel this week?

Morgane: Last week’s race in the snow was exhausting, I had to work hard but I am very happy with the result. Today, my legs are already burning a bit. I have to say that with my weekly training sessions and those of the week-end, it’s a full programme! In spite of that I am in good shape. This week, I started with a two hour recovery ride with my husband which allowed me to spend time with him on the bike and to appreciate that even the pros need periods of rest and recuperation. It was a lovely ride but unfortunately it’s not what you’ve got planned for me.

Geoffroy: True! This week will be decisive in your preparation. It looks pretty demanding but together we will get there. We will be extra vigilant and be particularly careful not to incur any injuries. Everything should go well, especially with the help of our good friend Matthieu.

Matthieu: I hope you’re ready Morgane, because today I will take control of your training. We are going to climb to prepare you for the roads of www.parisnicechallenge.com/us/">Paris-Nice Challenge. Like the last session with Geoffroy, we will do interval training 3 x 15 minutes of effort in the same gear. Except that this time, I’ll be on the scooter. So hang on, it’s time for a testing three hour training session.

Short presentation on G4 Ambassador, Matthieu Converset who rides for AVC Aix.

He was passing through Nice for the early season races on the Cote d’Azur and took the opportunity to join Morgane during this training session and give her some advice. The video follows.

Even though the training session with Matthieu has finished, Morgane will long remember it. Sometimes it’s necessary to suffer in order to progress! And this is not the end of this week’s programme. At the end of the week, Morgane and Geoffroy are off out for another ride.

Super-Cannes with Super Morgane!

Geoffroy: We are going to ride along the coast at a progressive pace for three and a half hours. Unlike the last physical training session with Matthieu, we’re going to work on your endurance. It’s good to train over long distances, and these undulating roads provide an ideal training ground. We will start slowly by riding towards Cannes before reaching the roads that most resemble those of the www.parisnicechallenge.com/us/">Paris-Nice Challenge.

Geoffroy: We are approaching the end of our ride and what a ride it has been! We set off towards Cannes and climbed Super-Cannes a route which is not well-known to many of the cyclists in the area but which is worth investigating. Then we took the roads into the hinterland and returned via Valbonne, Châteauneuf de Grasse, Pont du Loup, Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Vence and rode back down to the coast to finish our beautiful day’s ride – a super route with lots of undulations.

Geoffroy: I’m proud of what you’ve achieved today Morgane. You have shown that you’re ready for the event. You have easily completed today’s outing even after an intense week. Of course, the weather’s been kind but we’re still three weeks away from our objective which a good time to undertake some specific and endurance training. What do you think?

Morgane: It was nice to ride with different training partners. The ride with Matthieu was not too taxing even though I could still feel the effects of the trail race in my legs. I feel more and more ready for the www.parisnicechallenge.com/us/">Paris-Nice Challenge, especially after this last outing which leaves one and a half hours on the programme for this week-end. I’ll most probably run on Sunday and then rest up ahead of my recovery week which will involve skiing, sledging, yoga and stretching. The preparation continues until next week!

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. In next week’s episode, we will talk about active rest and the healthy and balanced diet that goes with it.