Setting Up & Planning the Perfect Race Calendar
Coaches Andrew & Ricky dive into crafting the optimal 2025 racing calendar, beginning with how to strategically plan your A-races. We discuss how many A-races to schedule, the ideal intervals between them, and whether to incorporate a mid-season break. From there, we explore filling in your calendar with B and C races, examining how many to include, their purposes, and the tangible takeaways you can expect from each.
We then shift focus to setting realistic and impactful goals for your A, B, and C races. Learn how to set an effective A-race goal by evaluating what makes a ‘good’ goal—such as favoring process or power-based goals over time-based ones—while considering factors like previous experience, altitude, and weather conditions. We also address how to set goals for B and C races and ensure that your individual race goals align with your broader season-long objectives. This might include targets like earning an upgrade, qualifying for the World Championships, or competing in a certain World Cup event.
Our conversation also touches on the optimal number of races, taking into account your discipline, travel plans, and other long-term goals. We break down common calendar mistakes such as scheduling too many or too few races, choosing races that are too dissimilar, or poorly spacing them throughout the season. For professional athletes, we consider whether the chance to peak at A-races is feasible and how a longer calendar starting early can impact your periodization strategy.
In the second half of the episode, we reflect on the mistakes we made when we were younger and the pitfalls we see young athletes encountering today. Topics include the dangers of crushing oneself over the winter, expending too much mental energy on elements that won’t matter in the long run, and becoming overly fixated on weight or wattage-to-weight ratios. We also discuss the potential downsides of upgrading equipment too quickly versus the benefits of sustaining success over time. On a positive note, we share things we're glad we did—like exploring various disciplines and avoiding the trap of pigeonholing oneself—to inspire a more balanced and open approach to athletic development.
If you like what Coaches Andrew or Ricky said and want to talk with them about your training including setting up your perfect race calendar fill out our new athlete questionnaire and check Andrew or Ricky for a complimentary coaching consultation, free of charge
You may hire Coach Andrew here ➡️ /collections/coaches/products/andrew-giniat
You may hire Coach Ricky here ➡️ /collections/coaches/products/ricky-arnopol
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