Is This Plan For You?

This plan is meant for beginner, novice or intermediate riders looking for guidance on preparing for a gravel race or event.

This plan assumes you have some fitness base coming into the last 2-3 months before the event.

If you are further out from your race, please check out our popular ‘3 Months Offroad Base Training Plan’

This plan will get you fit but also make sure you are prepared. It follows the same progressions and ideas I have used to help many athletes gain experience in Gravel and learn to train reasonably and consistently.

The plan that provides guidance on adding time/volume as your schedule and fitness allows. The general range of hours required is 5-10 hours per week and provides notes to extend or shorten depending on your time available.

It includes guidance for power, heart rate and RPE. It is ideal to use all 3 but you can use any of the 3 and still have great success.

What Does It Include?

While other plans will include only workouts. This plan includes reminders about preparation, bike setup and critical event specific workouts to ensure you are ready to thrive on race day mentally and physically. Consummate Athlete offers guidance on equiptment and fueling built into this training plan. These guidelines can be refined by booking phone consultations as you follow the plan.

Structured Workout Downloads are included for most bike workouts ( for Garmin / Zwift Etc ). Some workouts do not have download to keep things simple and provide freedom from focus and devices! (e.g. ride endurance on gravel for 3 hours).
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A basic core routine and 1-2 weekly yoga and/or walking sessions are provided and encouraged throughout the plan, in line with our Consummate Athlete philosophy.
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You can use this plan by HR, Power or RPE – you do not need to use downloads as the title and description of each workout should allow for completion of the key elements of the workout.

Ready to build a strong foundation for your next big event? Our highly-rated Base Plan on Training Peaks is designed to help you gradually accumulate the general fitness needed for off road cycling disciplines like gravel, cyclocross, and mountain biking. When you’re 3+ months out from your main event and looking to boost your endurance and general fitness, this plan is your go-to guide.

Who Is This Plan For?

This plan is perfect for off-road cyclists—gravel grinders, cyclocross racers, and mountain bikers—looking to develop their fitness, strength, and skills. It’s designed for athletes who incorporate indoor cycling, strength training, and cross-training into their routine. Whether you’re training mostly indoors or prefer outdoor rides, this plan adapts to your needs.

What’s Included?

• Structured Workouts: Tailored bike workouts by Power/%FTP with downloadable options for Garmin, Zwift, and other platforms. Not all workouts require downloads, giving you the flexibility to ride freely while still hitting your training goals. Heart Rate and RPE are noted for most workout as well.
• Strength & Mobility: Strength training routines are provided in easy-to-follow PDFs, ensuring you build the muscular endurance needed for your discipline.
• Flexible Volume: Weekly training ranges from 4 to 11 hours, with guidance to extend or shorten as needed.
• Cross-Training Encouraged: As part of the general preparation phase, this plan encourages cross-training, allowing you to build a well-rounded fitness base.

Start your journey to peak fitness with this comprehensive base training plan and arrive at your specific preparation period strong, healthy, and ready to tackle your off-road cycling goals.

About the Plan

Designed for intermediate and advanced riders, this Leadville 100 MTB Race Training Plan starts 3 months before the August Leadville Event Weekend. It’s a dedicated 12-week program crafted to get you race-ready for one of the most challenging mountain bike events. Please note that this plan is specifically timed for the Leadville 100 and cannot be shifted to accommodate other events. If you’re targeting a different 100-mile race, consider our 100 Miler 3 Month Build Plan.

Is This Plan Right for You?

• Perfect for intermediate to advanced riders focused on the Leadville 100 MTB Race.
• Aims to prepare you physically, technically, and logistically for the unique challenges of Leadville.
• The plan is built on proven progressions that have helped athletes achieve 9 and 12-hour belt buckles.
• Requires 6-8 hours of training in shorter weeks, progressing to 12-15+ hours in longer weeks.
• For those aiming for a sub-9-hour finish, personalized coaching or a custom 3-month plan is recommended.

Plan Highlights

• Comprehensive Preparation: Focuses on more than just fitness—this plan emphasizes pacing, nutrition, and technical/tactical skills crucial for Leadville success.
• Flexible Training Volume: Offers a range of workout durations, allowing you to adjust based on your availability and fitness level.
• Weekly/Monthly Guidance: Includes notes and tips to keep you on track and fully prepared for the demands of a long endurance race.
• Holistic Approach: Incorporates core and yoga sessions, plus walking, aligning with the Consummate Athlete philosophy.
• Structured and Adaptive Workouts: Provides downloadable workouts (e.g., for Zwift/Garmin), with a shift toward outdoor training as race day approaches. Uses Heart Rate, Power, and RPE (perceived effort) to guide your training.

Is This Plan Right for You?

• Versatile Duration: Adaptable for start dates in Jan, Feb and March, allowing flexibility based on your schedule, fitness level, and race goals.
• For All Levels: Perfect for cyclists who would enter such a challenging event! We have had riders with limited ultra experience use this plan and also successful masters / age-group riders placing on their age-group podiums! Whether you’re new to ultra-distance gravel races or a seasoned rider, this plan provides the structure to help you succeed.
• Flexible Metrics: Train using heart rate, power, or RPE. Structured workout downloads are included but not required, giving you the freedom to focus on riding.

Plan Highlights

• Structured Workouts: Features downloadable workouts compatible with Garmin, Zwift, and other platforms. Some sessions are unstructured to promote a focus on riding rather than devices.
• Indoor and Outdoor Flexibility: Initial months include indoor-focused workouts, but all sessions can be done outside to match your training environment preferences.
• Holistic Approach: Includes a core routine and 1-2 weekly yoga/walking sessions to support overall fitness and recovery. Cross-training is often an option given the early timing of this plan and its start in January/February.
• Adaptable Training Volume: Training ranges from 6 to 16 hours per week, with options to adjust based on your personal schedule, goals and fitness.

Get ready for your best Paris to Ancaster race with this comprehensive 12-week training plan, starting in late January—exactly 12 weeks before the event. This plan is perfect for intermediate cyclists looking to sharpen their fitness and race-day readiness. The first week focuses on getting acquainted with structured training and completing a few baseline efforts.

At Consummate Athlete, preparation is key, so this plan includes reminders for essential preparations, bike setup tips, and event-specific workouts. With a mix of power, heart rate, and RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) guidance, you’ll have the flexibility to train effectively using your preferred metrics.

Is This Plan Right for You?

• Targeted for Paris to Ancaster: Specifically designed for riders gearing up for the Paris to Ancaster event, some indoor riding is expected in the 3 months prior.
• Intermediate Riders: Suitable for those who have trained and raced before. You do not need to be a pro to benefit from this plan!
• Time-Conscious Training: Ideal for busy individuals with 5-8 hours of training time per week, with options to extend or shorten workouts as needed.
• Event-Specific: The plan is tailored to culminate on the Paris to Ancaster weekend, so it cannot be shifted to accommodate other events.

Plan Highlights

• Structured Workouts: Includes downloadable workouts for platforms like Garmin and Zwift, with a focus on both indoor and outdoor training. Some workouts are intentionally unstructured to encourage freedom from devices and focus.
• Holistic Fitness: Incorporates Cross-training,  a core routine and yoga sessions to keep you balanced and strong throughout the training period.
• Flexible Training Metrics: Train by heart rate, power, or RPE—whichever suits your style. Each workout is clearly described to ensure you hit the key elements, no matter the metric used.
• Adaptable Weekly Volume: The plan ranges from 6-10 hours of training per week, with the flexibility to adjust based on your schedule, fitness level, and goals.

This plan is 16 weeks long. It is best applied 1-2 months before your races start so that the plan will extend through to the end of your cross season. Applying in late July/early August will get you to December.

Races are assumed starting about 1-month into the plan and directions for how to deal with no-race, single race, or double race weekends are provided.

Ideally, you will have completed a general preparation or ‘base’ phase to establish fitness and cycling skills before this more specific block of training.