This week's entry on our blog is going to be about how the season has been planned 2021 for Jofre Cullell, athlete who will compete next Monday in the Tokyo Olympic Games in the XCO modality in the men's category.

First of all, We must advance that Jofre will be one of the youngest of the 38 participants in this test since he is still a sub23 athlete in his last year, element to take into account in your planning in terms of total amount of workload and how to tolerate it as the season progresses.

Initially the Olympics were an option that was on our calendar but we would have to sacrifice its under-23 season in the world cup: one of the criteria to go to the games was to play the first two world cups (Albstadt and Nove Mesto) at senior level. and obtain better performance in these two tests along with previous tests during the season to be able to access the two places available to the Spanish Cycling Federation.

This decision made the top priority of the first part of the season the day 9 y 16 of may, with which, his first moment of form should emerge those weeks. Therefore, In that first part of the season that would go from January to May there would be planning traditional with regular and simultaneous loads, facing the first competitions (Banyoles, Valladolid etc…) with very little specific work and as those competitions approached the specific block (April 4 weeks) with a height training stimulus (3 weeks) where altitude was abandoned due to lack of 13 days of the first major competition.

Along the way of this specific block where different components of the training were worked at altitude (past 8 days of adaptation) a test was put on his calendar: Haiming HC in Austria, as part of his preparation and to see his evolution in relation to other rivals, where he won even competing with relative fatigue in his body from the previous days.
Once the altitude stay (April 26) was finished (the athlete was tested in different test short and medium power (45 ’’, 1 ′, 3′ And 5 ’) where I frame their best historical records with enough difference.

Finally, Jofre competed in another test to finish refining his preparation in Barcelona C1 the day 1 of may. From there they already left better sensations with some residual fatigue of training.

The two world cups were not expected in the first case, with gastrointestinal problems that appeared after the Short Track on Friday and that reduced the cyclist's performance, But he was facing the second World Cup in Novel Mesto.

From there, confirming the second place in the RFEC for Jofre, The second part of the season began where it faces the Olympics test together with the European U23 Championship (August 14) and World U23 Championship (August 28). In this case we have chosen concentrated loads and sequential as important dates approach, choosing to select two components of the training during 3 consecutive microcycles (Anaerobic capacity / Extensive FRC for example) depending on the residual effect that this component has and the importance it should have on the circuit where the cyclist competes.

During these weeks prior to the Olympic Games there have been other competitions (Candeleda Open España, Leogang WCup, Les Getz Wcup, Coupe France VTT… etc.) where tapering has been respected in that microcycle for the Wcup, with the respective decrease in volume and maintenance of intensity. This but, It has not been respected by the rest of the calendar tests, using competitions as training and at the same time, test of material and/or food – drink for the games among other objectives of these.

Add that so far this year blood tests have been performed with different biochemical parameters, two incremental stress tests in the laboratory along with different field tests: lactate, incremental, maximum tests, load curve test – speed… etc., biomechanical study with the different bikes he rides, nutritional consultations to adjust the diet…

All this would not be possible without the collaboration of different professionals from each sector that we collaborate with their team and the RFEC to reach the best possible conditions to the great quotes of the calendar of him and each of the cyclists who trust us.

We wish you all the luck in the world and enjoy this unique moment!