Le Grand du Nord is 110 miles on mostly gravel and dirt forest roads, about 5,000 feet of climbing spread across constant rolling terrain, with a stretch of technical doubletrack. Temperatures stay cool near Lake Superior, and in the spring wet season rain is possible.

This is an eight-week plan for riders working with four to six hours a week. Most of the training goes toward the steady endurance the distance asks for and the repeated efforts of constant rolling terrain, because the limited hours are spent on the demands that matter most over 110 miles.

WHAT'S INSIDE

• Structured workouts on your calendar, with real power and heart-rate graphs


• Strength work built in, with video walkthroughs


• Weekly notes from me, plus the Gravel Grit mental program


• A testing week, so the plan runs on your real numbers


• The full Le Grand du Nord guide — terrain, gearing, fueling