{"id":1569,"date":"2021-11-16T14:55:58","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T13:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/?p=1569"},"modified":"2021-12-17T14:56:19","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T13:56:19","slug":"how-do-pro-cyclists-spend-their-off-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2021\/11\/16\/how-do-pro-cyclists-spend-their-off-season\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do Pro Cyclists Spend Their Off-Season?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Time off is precious to all of us, but to professional cyclists, those few weeks in October and November are like gold dust. It\u2019s time to put the bike away \u2013 for most \u2013 and relax, try something new or just stare at the wall and wait to get back in the saddle.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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In this article, we will highlight some of the best moments from the last month, which has seen the peloton let down its collective hair and enjoy themselves. Because let\u2019s be honest, they deserve it.<\/p>\n

Adam Yates and that marathon time<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ok, so just two paragraphs ago, we mentioned riders putting their feet up and relaxing over the off-season. It appears that Adam Yates didn\u2019t get the memo. Instead of cosying up next to a fire and reading a book, the Ineos Grenadiers rider was out pounding the streets of Barcelona, completing the city\u2019s marathon.<\/p>\n

With cyclists\u2019 bodies<\/a> evolving throughout the year to make them better riders, with most avoiding stairs at all costs, it\u2019s a feat in itself that Yates was able to get round the 26.2-mile course. But the time he completed the run in left many in disbelief \u2013 he clocked in at 2:58:06. In an Instagram post, he stated that he would stick to the bike riding, which must have been sweet relief to marathon runners around the world.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CWB1jM7ofqT\/<\/p>\n

He also stated that \u201ctwo weeks on the beach was not ideal preparation,\u201d but after posting that time, maybe most of us are missing the secret of running fast \u2013 relaxing on the beach!<\/p>\n

Sun, sand and ghosts?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Others have taken their beach time to more ordinary lengths, like Daniel Oss, who showed us what a great time he was having in Zanzibar.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CWBWB-io6yH\/<\/p>\n

Others were by the sea trying new sports. Marco Haller of Bahrain Victorious was in South Africa, asking his followers how he did on this par 3:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CV0XXeAs5ES\/<\/p>\n

By the looks of the comments, it was not a hole in one.<\/p>\n

In the USA, Nathan Haas was getting into the Halloween spirit, dressing up in a Ghostbusters outfit. Now we know who to call if we see any supernatural happenings.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CV-ljYHl8h5\/<\/p>\n

A busman\u2019s holiday<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It wouldn\u2019t be an off-season in cycling if there wasn\u2019t some cycling involved.<\/p>\n

The Israel Start-Up Nation boys have been busy, soaking up the winter sun of Israel with some mountain biking, as seen here in Chris Froome\u2019s rather excellent selfie taken whilst cycling.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CWDvSzosdCQ\/<\/p>\n

Other have been a little more serious, from Alex Dowsett\u2019s hour record attempt to Marianne Vos and Lucinda Brand ripping up the cyclocross on both sides of the pond.<\/p>\n

But perhaps the most fun off-season ride came from Larry Warbasse and Connor Dunne. The AG2R rouleur and the former pro turned GCN presenter reunited on the Canary Islands for the second chapter of their touring adventures.<\/p>\n

After riding together at the now defunct Aqua Blue Sport team, they were left high and dry back in 2018 when the team announced that it had folded just days before the Tour of Britain. The pair, without a race to, well, race, and now unemployed, used the opportunity for a bikepacking trip that went down in cycling\u2019s social media folklore \u2013 they even made a film about it.<\/p>\n

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