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TAPER · 2 WEEKS OUT

TRANS PYRENEES — 2 WEEKS OUT

Sharpness is banked. Now shed fatigue. 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

SHED FATIGUE.

Two weeks out you're in taper territory. Fitness plateaus or nudges up — you don't lose meaningful fitness in two weeks, but fatigue disappears fast. Short sharp efforts to keep legs awake. Everything else is volume reduction.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

RACE-PACE OPENERS

60min ride with 3x3min at race pace + 3x1min at VO2. Not training — priming. The efforts remind your legs what fast feels like. Nothing more.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 2 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST

Rest is the session.

Tuesday

OPENERS (60MIN)

Short sharp race-pace primers.

Wednesday

45MIN Z1

Coffee spin.

Thursday

60MIN Z2 WITH 2X5MIN AT THRESHOLD

Final sharpening effort.

Friday

REST

Full rest.

Saturday

90MIN Z2 WITH OPENERS

Short, easy, prep the pre-event day.

Sunday

60MIN Z1 OR REST

Total reset.

DON'T DO THIS

The taper-anxiety mistake: riding harder in taper because your legs feel fresh. Fresh legs aren't a problem — they're the whole point. Hold the line.

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?

COACHED FOR YOUR EVENT.

Not Done Yet is the coached five-pillar system built around your actual event date. Personalised TrainingPeaks plan, weekly calls, expert masterclasses. 7-day free trial.

Apply for Not Done YetHow Coaching Works

$195/month · 7-day free trial · Cancel anytime

FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 2 WEEKS OUT

Is 2 weeks enough to train for the Trans Pyrenees?+

2 weeks out your training can't meaningfully change your fitness — you're in taper. Focus on recovery, hydration, familiarisation with your kit + fuelling, and event-day logistics. Don't try to add fitness this close to the event.

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 2 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 ← 4 weeks out

PEAK PHASE

Later phase → 1 weeks out

RACE WEEK