SPAIN · ULTRA

BADLANDS
TRAINING PLAN.

Badlands is one of the hardest self-supported ultras in the world — 800km across Andalusia and the Tabernas Desert (Europe's only true desert) with 16,000m of climbing. Mixed gravel/road, 40°C+ daytime heat, freezing desert nights. A bucket-list race for the ultra-endurance community and a recurring topic on the Roadman Podcast.

800 km·16,000 m climbing·60-120 hours·September

PICK YOUR WINDOW

HOW LONG TILL YOUR BADLANDS?

Count back from your event date. Pick the weeks-out plan that matches your window. Each one is a week-by-week framework built around the demands of this specific course.

16 WEEKS OUT

BASE PHASE

Aerobic foundation. High volume, low intensity. Don't skip this.

12 WEEKS OUT

LATE BASE

Bridge phase. Volume still rules, but structure begins.

8 WEEKS OUT

BUILD PHASE

Structured intensity enters. Threshold + VO2 max work.

4 WEEKS OUT

PEAK PHASE

Event-specific sharpening. Volume drops, quality rises.

2 WEEKS OUT

TAPER

Sharpness is banked. Now shed fatigue.

1 WEEK OUT

RACE WEEK

Don't do anything clever. Eat, sleep, show up.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE BADLANDS ACTUALLY DEMANDS

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

✓Self-supported format — resupply only at open shops + fountains
✓Tabernas Desert crossing: 40°C+ daytime, freezing at night
✓16,000m climbing across 800km averages 20m/km — relentless
✓Sleep strategy is part of the race (2-6 hours/day at best)
✓Mix of road + gravel + rough dirt — tyre choice is a gamble

COMMON MISTAKES

✗Underestimating the night desert cold — riders treat 'Spain in September' as warm, it isn't at 2am
✗Treating it like a long sportive — Badlands breaks people who haven't done shorter ultras first
✗Poor tyre pressure — either too light (punctures) or too firm (fatigue)

PACING

Don't race the start. Badlands has a 4-5 day finishing window for most riders and the leaderboard means almost nothing if you DNF at km 400. Sustainable pace — roughly 60% of your 8-hour FTP as an all-day ceiling. Sleep plan written in advance: where, how long, triggered by which km.

FUELLING

No aid stations means every carbohydrate and fluid range depends on mapped shop access. Rehearse the highest intake your gut tolerates, audit sweat loss in representative heat and carry contingency capacity between resupplies. Sodium should be planned from the whole diet, products and repeated observations rather than treated as a universal desert dose.

KIT

Ultra-endurance bikepacking setup: dynamo hub, frame bag, saddle bag, bar bag. 40-45mm gravel tyres with good sidewalls (Challenge Getaway, Pirelli Cinturato, Schwalbe G-One Ultrabite). Bivvy bag + emergency blanket for forced sleep stops.

FAQ

BADLANDS TRAINING, ANSWERED.

How long should I train for the Badlands?

For the Badlands (800km with 16,000m of climbing), most riders benefit from at least 12-16 weeks of structured preparation. If you've been riding consistently, 8 weeks of focused work can still be enough to shift your result. Pick the weeks-out plan that matches your window.

What's the typical finish time for the Badlands?

Most amateur finishers complete the Badlands in 60-120 hours. The spread is driven by climbing fitness more than flat speed — the course has 16,000m of vertical, and pacing the climbs is what separates a strong finish from a suffering one.

When does the Badlands take place?

The Badlands typically runs in September. That sets the training window: count back from your event date and pick the weeks-out plan that matches.

What's the biggest mistake riders make at the Badlands?

Underestimating the night desert cold — riders treat 'Spain in September' as warm, it isn't at 2am

How should I pace the Badlands?

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

READY FOR A PLAN MADE FOR YOU?

The framework above gets you in the right territory. Roadman coaching builds it around your FTP, your life, and your weeks remaining.

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BADLANDSTRAINING PLAN.