It is a windy Monday afternoon at Oak Valley Wine Estate in South Africa’s Western Cape. With the first stage of the 2015 ABSA Cape Epic having concluded a few hours earlier, Rudi Van Houts is still cycling, albeit on a stationary roller in the back of a truck.
Having finished third on the 113km leg with Multivan Merida teammate Jose Hermida, the amiable Dutch rider is spinning his legs for around half an hour. This is an active form of recovery and part of a greater rejuvenation process that began as soon as Van Houts crossed the finish line.
“It is sometimes hard to do but is really just an extension of the recovery process,” says Van Houts. “As the race gets longer, I might give the rollers a miss on the odd day but it is definitely a beneficial tool in performance enhancement.”
Rest and recuperation is everything for the professional riders, which normally entails ingestion of whole foods and liquids, massage and, in many cases, easy cycling. While it is not unusual to see riders warming up on a stationary bike in the hours leading up to race start, post-competition warm-downs are becoming increasingly popular among the off-road cycling elite.
Topeak Ergon soigneur Craig Gerber explains that each rider’s recovery process depends upon a few variables. Mood is perhaps the foremost determining factor, where a rider’s morale can determine how much time he or she spends on the stationary trainer post race.
“I’m not afraid to give the riders a heavy massage,” adds Gerber, acknowledging that massage and gentle spinning are complementary practices and that personal preferences apply to all. “While someone like Alban Lakata responds well to working on various trigger points, there are others whose muscles are much softer and more suited to more long, flowing effleurage-based treatment.”
Case in point mid-week and Lakata mounted his stationary Canyon late in the afternoon complete with massive headphones. Having just had a particularly strong massage after a big lunch, the solid Austrian rider pushed the pedals lightly for around twenty-five minutes, clearly ensconced in a rhythmic unison of music and low gearing. Given the radiant sunshine and idyllic setting, it was perhaps telling that Lakata was dressed in long-sleeves, absorbing his massage whilst keeping his legs moving and maintaining an optimum body temperature.
And what is Lakata’s musical preference whilst going nowhere fast?
“Alban loves his Metallica,” says Gerber with a smile.
