Training under optimal conditions is of fundamental importance when it comes to prepare athletes for competitions. They therefore often move permanently to countries with a warm climate intending to find perfect training conditions thanks to the better weather. Throughout the last decades, the south of Spain became “the place to be” in winter: every day, the hilly roads of Costa Blanca see hundreds of professional riders and amateur cyclists on their bikes.
Last Winter, beside to the four Team Training Camps (two for the Pro Team, two for the Devo Team), a big house was rented in Calpe, Alicante, to give all team riders the possibility to train and enjoy the warm temperatures.
“The idea came up last year in Winter, when we realized some riders were struggling when training at home because of the bad weather” explains Sebastian Deckert, Head Coach of Tudor Pro Cycling. “We then started thinking about what could be done as a team to help and support all riders, especially those living in precarious climate conditions. We decided to rent a house, a permanent place that could be used to escape from bad weather, even last minute. The goal was to train consistently in a good and stable environment. It was easy to choose Calpe as a destination, as it’s a suitable area to train and riders already know the region.”
And just like that, the Team CEO Raphael found a house matching the requirements and, with the help of local mechanic Oscar Sanchez, the news spread: from November to March, all riders had the chance to book themselves a spot in the villa and train under the Spanish sun.
The two-floor villa was big enough to offer a comfortable stay for eight people in one of the four twin rooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a cosy living and dining room, four bathrooms including a laundry room and a garage to store bikes. Outside, a lovely courtyard with Agrume trees, a barbecue and a swimming pool.
This opportunity was well received; the house hosted 16 team members, 15 riders and even one staff member during the Christmas holidays. “Of course, having a limited number of spots, reservations followed on a first come first served basis,” Sebastian continues. “We never had to reject a reservation due to high demand. Firstly, the weather in Central and Northern Europe was not as bad as in previous years, which meant riders could also train well at their homes. Secondly, the team training camps lasted a bit longer than last year, providing already solid blocks of training. Thirdly, some pro riders had already arranged their winter in other locations such as Malaga or Mallorca, as they owned or had already rented apartments there to explore new areas.”
Among the 15 riders using the house, most of them belong to the Development Team. 10 out of 13 riders took advantage of this possibility.
Spending time in the team house doesn’t mean being on a training camp, as riders have different plans and rhythms. For this reason, everyone leads their own everyday life: From the moment you get up to the end of training everyone is independent. However, the late afternoon is the moment when all riders can group up and spend some time together: just chilling on the sofa or going to a café.
“Being in the team house was really cool, as we could live together and get to know each other better. Some of us are young and still live with their families. We are used to having everything ready. This was a great test and we discovered new traits about one another.” Fabian Weiss (U23 last year, team member since 2021)
The time spent together is a huge benefit for the team. Boris Zimine, Head of Development, was enthusiastic about this project: “I am really happy to see how the younger riders took advantage of this opportunity: they understood the importance of preparation and their health. I’m confident that this winter spent together had - and will have - a positive influence on our racing season, not only regarding performance but also on the team spirit. I am sure they will not forget these moments, nor the support the team gave them.”
This article is published in the second issue of Musette Magazine. To read more stories about the Team, get your copy in our webshop.