So the French are doing rather well in their home tour are they? That is most certainly not a bad thing, especially given the dearth of French results in the post-Jalabert era. Thomas Voeckler’s decade-long exploits aside, it has been quite some time since the podium in Paris has had French-feet upon it. From the teary-eyed Laurent Fignon to the boyish charm of Richard Virenque, the sight of a French rider adorning overall rostrum has become but a distant memory. Yet this could change come Sunday, as Le Tour enters the streets of the capital city, marking the end of three weeks of toil.
At thirty-seven years of age, Jean-Christophe Péraud is certainly no spring chicken. Yet the former Olympic mountain biker has been gradually chipping away at the more fancied foreigners this past week, his tactical nous and physical ability seeing his gradual ascent up the general classification to within spitting distance of third place. How far can he spit though? Given is unlikely path to professional road cycling, the chances of him making modern day French history are looking better by the day; he just needs to have the freedom to do his thing.
After winning a silver medal at Beijing 2008, Peraud turned his attention to road racing and was the surprise winner of the French Nation Time Trial Championship. Quickly snapped up by the Belgian Omega Pharma – Lotto squad, he eventually settled into his native Ag2r-La Mondiale with consistent performances in several weeklong stage races.
In the present era of increasing sports science, many of the French teams lag behind in this department, relying on “the way we have always done it.” Often scoffed at by the more science-inclined media, this simplistic and traditional approach is perhaps more mainstream than the average fan might be inclined to believe. And it is not just limited to the French either. While there those that ogle at the glitz and glamour of the more mainstream cycling teams of today, the sheer volume of racing that a professional cyclist endures in a season does beg the question: how much specific (read. non-traditional) training is actually performed in between the relentless competition schedule? Not as much as we think, I suspect.
Take Adam Hansen for instance. Nearing the end of his ninth consecutive Grand Tour, the innovative and articulate Australian reveals that he switches off from cycling completely in the week immediately following a stage race, not touching his bike at all. Whilst there are those that may reserve judgment on this approach, Hansen’s reasoning is pretty sound: he needs to unplug both physically and mentally from the sport in order to make a full recovery.
When asked about the most effective way to recover from a Grand Tour, 1988 Giro ‘d Italia champion Andy Hampsten explained how gently turning the pedals for an hour-and-a-half was de riguer amongst his generation. Turning the legs maintains effective blood flow, providing a flushing effect, almost like a massage.
Two Anglophones with differing methods but similar intent all the same. I really do wonder how much of the seemingly “new” training methods borrow from those of yesteryear. That said peak performance in sport is all about recovery. One team at the forefront of the scientific realm has been quite innovative in this regard. Team SKY had the veritable piss taken out of them a few years ago. The reason? Their riders would warm down on stationary trainers after each and every stage, much to the bemusement - and even chagrin – of many of their contemporaries. Amusingly and perhaps tellingly, many teams have followed suit, with post-race media interviews often being conducted to the whirring sound of a magnetic trainer’s flywheel.
I’m not sure if Jean-Christophe Péraud will be doing anything of the sort, though. Is he about science or tradition? I suspect a leaning towards the latter, but who am I to speculate? If one takes a closer look at three of the most prominent French teams of today, their management positions are occupied by fellows steeped in tradition. Vincent Lavenu (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Jean-Rene Bernaudeau (Team Europcar) and Marc Madiot (FDJ) are all of provincial heritage. The ethos of their respective squads reflects their backgrounds, where the cycling careers evolved from journeyman-pros to team managers. Both Lavenu and Bernadeau’s teams have evolved from amateur teams, where the racing is wild and the passion is deep. Tradition runs deep in these guy’s veins, where the term le métier is more than just a book title; it is a lifestyle.
After all, how did the late Laurent Fignon know when it was time to retire? Not from a power tap or SRM file. He simply had to change down to his 42-tooth inner chain ring whilst riding on a lane near to his home to realize that his time was up.
An indoor trainer for recovery post Pyrenean stage for Peraud? Merde!
Pure conjecture of course.
*Note: image borrowed from Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com
