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RACE WEEK · 1 WEEKS OUT

RING OF BEARA CYCLE — 1 WEEKS OUT

Don't do anything clever. Eat, sleep, show up. Built around the 140km / 2,200m profile of the Ring of Beara in Ireland.

140 km·2,200 m climbing·5-8 hours·May

THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW

DON'T DO ANYTHING CLEVER.

Race week is about arriving at the start line fresh, hydrated, and calm. The training is done. Hard sessions now cost you more than they give you. Every hour of good sleep in the final 72 hours does more than any workout could.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

RACE MORNING OPENERS

20 minutes on the bike, morning of the event or day before, with 3x30sec at race pace. Wakes legs up without draining anything. That's it.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 1 WEEKS OUT

Monday

45MIN Z1 + OPENERS (3X1MIN RACE PACE)

Legs awake, fatigue low.

Tuesday

REST OR 30MIN EASY

Focus on hydration + sleep.

Wednesday

60MIN WITH 4X30SEC RACE PACE

Final primer — nothing heroic.

Thursday

REST

Start carb-loading today.

Friday

30MIN EASY SPIN + OPENERS

Race check. Kit lay-out. Route review.

Saturday (race day -1)

20-30MIN VERY EASY

Or rest. Whichever calms nerves.

Race Day

EVENT

Pace it. Fuel it. Enjoy it.

DON'T DO THIS

Race-week mistakes are always additive — an extra hard session, extra volume, an unfamiliar food. Do less. The last week cannot make you fitter. It can absolutely make you slower.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE RING OF BEARA ACTUALLY DEMANDS

Ring of Beara is the coastal Kerry sportive — 140km around the wildest peninsula in Ireland, with the Caha Mountains and Healy Pass as the defining climbs. Smaller field than Wicklow 200, steeper climbs.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • ✓Healy Pass — the signature climb, 8% average, switchbacks
  • ✓Exposed coastal sections with unpredictable crosswinds
  • ✓140km is shorter than Wicklow but the terrain is punchier
  • ✓Early May means the road is often wet
  • ✓Small villages for feed zones — plan your stops carefully

COMMON MISTAKES

  • ✕Treating Healy Pass like an easy climb because it's 'only' 9km
  • ✕Packing like it's July when it's May on the Atlantic
  • ✕Cranking the gearing too hard — long compact gearing saves the day

PACING

The first 80km are rolling with two controllable climbs. The Healy Pass at km 100 is the ride. If you arrive at the base feeling fresh you'll finish strong. If you're already ragged you'll crack on the steep section. Pace for Healy, not the flats.

FUELLING

Shorter than Wicklow but more climbing per km. 70-90g carbs/hour. Refill at Kenmare or Glengarriff depending on the route. The Healy Pass has no feed zone — come to it with a full bottle and a gel.

KIT

Gilet and armwarmers even in May. Compact crankset with 11-32 cassette. The descent off Healy is technical — check brake pads before you start.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

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FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 1 WEEKS OUT

Is 1 weeks enough to train for the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

Race week is about showing up fresh. No new fitness gains possible in a week. Focus on sleep, hydration, carb loading 48-72 hours out, and mental prep. Any hard session this week costs you more than it gives.

What's the hardest part of the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

Healy Pass — the signature climb, 8% average, switchbacks. treating Healy Pass like an easy climb because it's 'only' 9km — so pacing discipline is the single biggest lever most amateurs miss. The first 80km are rolling with two controllable climbs.

How many hours a week should I train at 1 weeks out from the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

Drop to 6-8 hours with minimal intensity. The taper protects the fitness you've built rather than growing more. Short, sharp openers to keep legs awake. Nothing aerobically challenging.

Do I need a coach to train for the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

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 Ring of Beara Cycle runs. 7-day free trial, $195/mo.

What gearing should I run for the Ring of Beara Cycle?+

Gilet and armwarmers even in May. Compact crankset with 11-32 cassette. The descent off Healy is technical — check brake pads before you start.

OTHER PHASES FOR THE RING OF BEARA

Earlier phase ← 2 weeks out

TAPER

Read the full Ring of Bearaguide →