“Pidcock was the first to raise his finger”: why Pinarello-Q36.5 is going on an altitude training course in Chile, of all places
A month of training at altitude in Chile. That is the adventure that 7 riders of Pinarello-Q36.5 are embarking on. Why choose Chile over Teide and Sierra Nevada? And how do they approach such an undertaking?
“I would have preferred to keep it under the radar. But apparently the riders are looking forward to it so much that they can’t keep quiet about it.”
Kurt Bogaerts laughs when we ask him why he is going to Chile with 7 riders from his team for an altitude internship, which involves a day of travel.
“We want to give our riders an extra holiday,” he chuckles. “Of course it all has to do with the climate.”
“Most teams go on an altitude training camp to the Sierra Nevada and Tenerife. But those places regularly suffer from bad weather during this period.”
Everyone has already seen Mount Teide from the inside and out.
Kurt Bogaerts (team leader Pinarello-Q36.5)
“In the Sierra Nevada, for example, a lot of snow has fallen this winter. Then you have to drive to the valley every day and that doesn’t make you happy.”
Why not Tenerife? “Because most riders have already seen Mount Teide inside and out. You have to cycle up the same climb every time, which makes it mentally tough.”
So Chile became the chosen destination. “The weather is nice (30°C inland, 15 to 20°C at altitude) and it is a new environment.”
The Teide has already almost been flattened by the professional cyclists.
Very army
In concrete terms, Pinarello-Q36.5 will travel to the mountainous north of Chile next Sunday with 7 riders.
Sitting on the plane: the 3 Belgians Brent Van Moer, Xandro Meurisse and Quinten Hermans, the 3 British Tom Pidcock, Thomas Gloag and Fred Wright and the Swiss Fabio Christen.
“How did we determine who could participate? We let the riders choose themselves, because they will be away from home for almost a month.”
“Tom (Pidcock) was the first to put his finger in the air. He even pushed me harder to make it happen.”
In addition to the 7 riders, a whole army of staff members will join us: 2 team leaders, a coach, 3 caretakers, 2 mechanics, a nutritionist and a chef.
“That creates a solid financial picture,” says Bogaerts. “But it is a responsible and well-considered choice.”
“We will sleep in 4 apartments, 1 of which will be furnished as a kitchen.”
Quinten Hermans prefers Chile to the Cyclo-Cross Championships.
Request Pidcock
Quinten Hermans (who will miss the Cyclo-Cross Championships due to the altitude training) already indicated that he is really looking forward to Chile. Much to Bogaerts’ delight.
“We have been working on performance at a high level for an entire season. But sometimes it is forgotten that it should also remain fun. That’s why I’m happy to hear that the riders are looking forward to the altitude training.”
Pidcock is also already counting down. The British leader had a special request before traveling. “Tom has asked to bring specific tires so that he can occasionally drive off-road in Chile.”
“Most of the riders we take to Chile (coincidentally or not) like to ride off-road or have an off-road background. That makes it extra fun.”
And the jet lag? “It won’t be too bad,” Bogaerts reassures. “We will be back in Europe on February 5.”
“Then there are still 10 days left before the riders swarm to the Tour of Murcia, the Figueira Champions Classic, the Ruta del Sol or the Tour of the Algarve. So there is plenty of time to start the season fresh.”
Wondering whether the Chilean altitude training camp will be here to stay.
