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RACE WEEK · 1 WEEKS OUT

TRANS PYRENEES — 1 WEEKS OUT

Don't do anything clever. Eat, sleep, show up. Built around the 1500km / 35,000m profile of the Trans Pyrenees in France / Spain.

1500 km·35,000 m climbing·6-9 days·October

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 TRANS PYRENEES ACTUALLY DEMANDS

Trans Pyrenees is one of the hardest self-supported ultras in Europe — 1,500km from Biarritz to Barcelona (or reverse) across every major pass in the Pyrenees, with 35,000m of climbing. 6-9 day finishes. October weather unpredictable.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • ✓35,000m climbing — that's 4× Everest across the event
  • ✓Every HC and Cat 1 Pyrenean pass featured — Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin, Peyresourde, Porto
  • ✓October weather: snow on passes, freezing rain, wind
  • ✓Self-supported — you carry, you sleep where you can
  • ✓Mandatory tracker, daily check-in times

COMMON MISTAKES

  • ✕Treating it like Badlands (Mediterranean) — the Pyrenees are colder, wetter, mountainous
  • ✕Underspecing kit — October above 1,800m needs winter gear
  • ✕Sleep deprivation affecting descending safety on day 4+

PACING

Trans Pyrenees is a climbing-dominated ultra. Pace on the climbs — not the flats. Target sub-threshold on every pass, regardless of time pressure. Sleep 5-7 hours/day for sustainable progress. Check weather nightly and pick tomorrow's start time accordingly.

FUELLING

No aid stations. Resupply at open shops, cafés, petrol stations. 80-100g carbs/hour on the bike, with real food stops at cafés every 4-5 hours. Hot drinks at altitude pass points matter more than people expect. Carry extra gels for nighttime emergencies.

KIT

Full bikepacking kit. Dynamo hub for lights + devices. 32-35mm tyres with reinforcement. Waterproof jacket, waterproof gloves, waterproof socks. Bivvy + sleeping bag rated to 0°C. Emergency mylar blanket. Spare battery pack.

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 Trans Pyrenees?+

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 Trans Pyrenees?+

35,000m climbing — that's 4× Everest across the event. treating it like Badlands (Mediterranean) — the Pyrenees are colder, wetter, mountainous — so pacing discipline is the single biggest lever most amateurs miss. Trans Pyrenees is a climbing-dominated ultra.

How many hours a week should I train at 1 weeks out from the Trans Pyrenees?+

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 Trans Pyrenees?+

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 Trans Pyrenees runs. 7-day free trial, $195/mo.

What gearing should I run for the Trans Pyrenees?+

Full bikepacking kit. Dynamo hub for lights + devices. 32-35mm tyres with reinforcement. Waterproof jacket, waterproof gloves, waterproof socks. Bivvy + sleeping bag rated to 0°C. Emergency mylar blanket. Spare battery pack.

OTHER PHASES FOR THE TRANS PYRENEES

Earlier phase ← 2 weeks out

TAPER