Peaking for an event is the part of training that most riders get wrong. You put in twelve or sixteen weeks of solid work, and then the final seven to fourteen days — the bit that can unlock a ten to fifteen percent performance gain — gets treated as an afterthought. Or worse, you panic and train harder in the last week because you do not feel ready.
I want to give you a simple framework that takes the guesswork out of tapering.
First, cut volume by forty to sixty percent in the final week or two before your event. That means shorter rides, fewer total hours, and more rest days. But — and this is the critical part — keep two or three sessions with short, sharp efforts at threshold or above. Drop the volume, keep the top end. That combination lets your body absorb the training you have already done while keeping your legs snappy.
Second, eat more than you think you need in the last two to three days. You do not need a complicated carb-loading strategy. Just add an extra portion of rice or pasta to your main meals and have a banana before bed. Full glycogen stores are free watts on the day.
Third, expect to feel terrible. Taper anxiety hits almost everyone. You will feel sluggish, heavy, maybe a bit irritable. That is your body processing weeks of accumulated fatigue. It is not a sign that you have lost fitness. The riders who perform best are the ones who trust the process and resist the urge to squeeze in one more hard session three days out.
Finally, sort your logistics before taper week. Kit, travel, bike check — get it all done early so your brain can switch off and focus on rest.
The work is already in the bank. Your job now is to let it pay out.
Join the free Roadman community: https://www.skool.com/roadmancycling