Sea Otter Europe (Gravel): 6-week KICK START training plan (Zwift compatible)

If you’re an intermediate cyclist targeting the Life Time Sea Otter Europe Gravel and coming out of winter ready to build with intent, this 6-week KICK START training plan is designed to prepare you for one of Europe’s most exciting and fast-growing gravel events. Based in Girona, Spain, with routes extending into the surrounding Catalan countryside and foothills, Sea Otter Europe Gravel combines flowing gravel roads, rolling climbs, technical dirt sectors, and sustained efforts over varied terrain. This plan is about turning winter fitness into confident, adaptable race performance.

Who’s it for?
This plan is aimed at intermediate cyclists with a solid aerobic base who are ready to move into a more purposeful build toward Sea Otter Europe Gravel. Whether you’ve trained consistently through winter or are sharpening your focus as spring approaches, this block provides structure and intent at exactly the right stage of the season. It’s shaped by real race experience and a clear understanding of the demands of gravel racing around Girona.

Is it for you?
This plan assumes you’re comfortable riding both indoors and outdoors, with all key sessions fully Zwift-compatible for precision and consistency. It’s ideal if you want to transition smoothly from winter training into event-specific preparation without burning out, while rebuilding aerobic fitness, repeatable power, and long-ride durability.

The focus reflects the realities of Sea Otter Europe Gravel: a fast, competitive start, long stretches of high-speed gravel, rolling climbs that require steady power rather than explosive efforts, and technical dirt sections where line choice, traction, and confidence matter. The Girona region offers a blend of smooth pistas, rougher gravel tracks, and occasional punchy climbs, rewarding riders who can pace well and stay efficient across constantly changing surfaces.

What’s involved?
The plan builds progressively over six weeks, carefully balancing structure with flexibility to support consistent progression. Each week targets key training zones using Zwift-based indoor sessions for accuracy and control, alongside outdoor rides to develop endurance, fatigue resistance, and real-world gravel skills.

There’s a strong emphasis on aerobic conditioning, sustained tempo and sweet-spot work, and repeated efforts at moderate-to-high intensity to mirror the rolling nature of the course. Longer rides focus on maintaining power as fatigue builds, practising fuelling under load, and staying smooth and composed on mixed gravel terrain where efficiency and bike handling play a major role.

The aim of this 6-week KICK START block isn’t to peak prematurely, but to leave you fitter, tougher, and more confident, ready to move into the final, Sea Otter Europe–specific preparation phase. You’ll be well prepared for fast starts, rolling gravel climbs, technical dirt sectors, and the sustained demands of racing through the gravel heartland around Girona.