The senior team have just completed their first altitude training camp of the year in France. Five members of the senior team spent three weeks training in the Alps along with coaches Thomas and Roy. Also present for part of the camp were Scottish Institute of Sport physiotherapist, Kelly, and physiologist, Helen, who helped out and provided great support .  Base for the three weeks was a fantastic chalet just out of Tignes, which was slightly more luxurious than the team’s usual accommodation!

 

Training started gradually so that the athletes could get used to the thinner air which made everything feel like harder work than at sea level. The first few days involved a few easy rollerskis and some running in the mountains while everyone acclimatised. After a few days of easy sessions the volume and intensity of training gradually increased. The Tour de France often passes through the area and some of the mountain passes were ideal for some tough sessions, including rollerskiing up the famous Col de l’Iseran and the Petit Col du St Bernard.

 

At this time of year as winter approaches skiers start to increase their intensity training. To get a measure of their level of fitness the team did a 6km uphill classic timetrial, one of the hardest sessions of the camp. Callum proved he was in good form by outsprinting Andrew to the line to have the fastest time of the day, while Fi was heard to wish afterwards that every race could be an uphill classic race. A few days later the same road was used for skate intervals where Alex impressed Helen by having one of the highest lactate levels she had ever tested, showing that he was definitely working hard!

 

At the end of 3 weeks of solid training the camp finished up with a long run through the spectacular mountains around Tignes. After that all that was left to do was pack up and head to the airport via the team’s sponsor, Salomon’s headquarters in Annecy to see some of the new team kit: just one more reason to look forward to winter!