LATE BASE · 12 WEEKS OUT

BADLANDS — 12 WEEKS OUT

Bridge phase. Volume still rules, but structure begins. Built around the 800km / 16,000m profile of the Badlands in Spain.

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

THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW

BUILD THE ENGINE.

Twelve weeks out, you're still building the base — but specific structure is starting to appear. Tempo work enters the picture one day a week. Long rides get longer. This is where the event-specific fitness starts to take shape without compromising your aerobic foundation.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

TEMPO SANDWICH

2x20min at tempo (76-88% FTP) inside a 2-hour Z2 ride. Steady, controlled, not a time trial. This is your first taste of extended race-pace efforts.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 12 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST

Non-negotiable.

Tuesday

TEMPO SANDWICH (2H)

2x20min tempo inside steady Z2.

Wednesday

STRENGTH + 1H RECOVERY SPIN

Keep the gym work periodised.

Thursday

2H Z2 WITH 4X8MIN TEMPO

Progressive tempo work.

Friday

REST OR EASY 30MIN

Protect the weekend.

Saturday

4-5H LONG RIDE WITH EVENT-SPECIFIC TERRAIN

Mimic your target event's profile.

Sunday

2H Z2 RECOVERY RIDE

Active recovery, conversational pace.

DON'T DO THIS

Don't start threshold intervals yet. The build phase will come. If you jump intensity too early you'll peak 6 weeks before race day and arrive flat.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE BADLANDS ACTUALLY DEMANDS

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. The race that made Lachlan Morton famous on the Roadman Podcast.

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. You carry or you resupply from shops. 80-100g carbs/hour on the bike minimum. Calories eaten at shops count. Salt + electrolytes critical in the desert crossing. Cafés and gas stations become your crew.

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.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

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FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 12 WEEKS OUT

Is 12 weeks enough to train for the Badlands?+

Yes, 12 weeks is a strong window. That's enough time for a full base phase, build, peak, and taper — the classical periodisation structure. 16,000m of climbing over 800km is built with sustained Z2 volume (base) + threshold work (build) in that order.

What's the hardest part of the Badlands?+

Self-supported format — resupply only at open shops + fountains. underestimating the night desert cold — riders treat 'Spain in September' as warm, it isn't at 2am — so pacing discipline is the single biggest lever most amateurs miss. Don't race the start.

How many hours a week should I train at 12 weeks out from the Badlands?+

Aim for 8-12 hours/week if you're targeting a strong finish. The long weekend ride is the anchor (3-4 hours at build intensities) plus 3-4 structured weekday sessions. Volume matters more than intensity at this phase.

Do I need a coach to train for the Badlands?+

You don't need a coach to finish. You do need structure. If you're new to sportives, have a target finish time, have a plateau you can't break, or have a history of peaking wrong, a coached plan pays for itself. Inside Not Done Yet the plan is built backwards from your event date — base, build, peak, taper timed to the week the Badlands runs. 7-day free trial, $195/mo.

What gearing should I run for the Badlands?+

OTHER PHASES FOR THE BADLANDS

Earlier phase ← 16 weeks out

BASE PHASE

Later phase → 8 weeks out

BUILD PHASE