Recovery week and deload week are used interchangeably — the function is the same. The mistake amateur cyclists make is skipping them because they feel fine in week 3. The whole point is to schedule the recovery before fatigue forces it on you, when fitness is preserved and motivation is high. The contrast: recovery week (planned, fitness intact) versus forced rest (illness or injury, fitness dropping). Joe Friel's classic 3:1 structure (three loading weeks then one recovery week) is the simplest version that works. For masters riders, 2:1 is often more sustainable. The format: keep one or two short intensity touches to maintain sharpness, drop the long ride and the volume, and use the time to actually sleep, eat properly, and address whatever niggles have been creeping in. The non-negotiable: do not 'make up' the missed volume the week after — that defeats the purpose entirely.