This training plan has been designed by Pav Bryan — Olympic cycling coach, TrainingPeaks Level 2 Coach and Amazon #1 Author.
Want to build race-ready fitness this winter?
This plan is designed for developing cyclists who want to use the winter to build the fitness, power and repeatability needed for stronger road-racing performance.
Rather than relying only on traditional base miles, the plan uses a focused mix of aerobic work, threshold training, higher-intensity efforts and strength work to prepare you for the demands of racing.
The result is a structured winter that improves your aerobic engine, sustainable power and ability to respond to changes in pace.
Who this plan is for
This version is best suited to riders who are relatively new to structured training or are currently averaging less than around 300 TSS per week.
It works particularly well if your main goal is road racing and you want to arrive at the start of the season with a stronger foundation for attacks, climbs, surges and repeated hard efforts.
What the plan includes
- Focused sessions developing sustainable power and aerobic fitness
- Higher-intensity work introduced progressively as your fitness develops
- Aerobic and endurance training supporting race durability
- Cadence and cycling-efficiency work
- Core and strength training
- Regular recovery to support adaptation
The plan uses a focused winter-training approach, developing race-relevant fitness before moving into more specific competition preparation later in the season.
You can follow the cycling sessions using power, heart rate or perceived exertion. A power meter can provide additional precision, but it is not essential.
Many sessions use TrainingPeaks structured workouts with power, heart rate and cadence targets where appropriate.
Starting after your end-of-season break
The plan assumes you've taken some recovery at the end of your season. If you've had an extended break, start conservatively and allow your fitness to rebuild before progressing through the harder training.
Want the plan adapted around you?
A pre-built plan is a great option if you're comfortable managing your own training.
But no generic plan can know your exact fitness, available time, recovery, race schedule, strengths, weaknesses or how you're responding from week to week.
If you'd like me to build and manage your training personally, you can upgrade to 1:1 coaching at any point.
TrainingPeaks plan customers receive an exclusive coaching upgrade offer.
You'll find details and a link to book a free consultation with me at the start of the plan.
Build the engine, sharpen the race fitness — and start your next season ready to compete.
Olympic cycling coach, TrainingPeaks Level 2 Coach, Amazon #1 Author and Seven Summits cycling world record holder. I coach riders from first Gran Fondos and amateur races through to ultra-endurance, national and world-class performance. My approach combines proven training principles with your goals, available time, recovery and life outside cycling.