Professional Cycling Tips for Road Racing

A set routine dictates much of a professional road cyclist's day. Meals, sleep and workouts all get scheduled into the day. This routine ensures the completion of regular training, and many cyclists rely on a certain training and recovery schedule to deliver positive results at upcoming races. Most amateurs can't afford to organize their days like a pro. However, you can still set up your own routine to get the most out of cycling and training.
Training Plan
One of the best ways to reach your road racing goals starts with a training plan. This confirms that you're riding enough every week and also allows you to track your progress. You can find training plans online or in books such as those by endurance sports coach Joe Friel, or else hire a coach to set up an individualized training plan. A training plan keeps you on track and also gives you enough time to plan a fitness peak for your priority races.
Recovery
A large part of any cycling routine should include recovery. Take a nod from pro cyclists, many of whom sleep for more than eight hours a night and nap after hard training sessions. When you sleep, your body rebuilds and repairs so it can grow stronger. It also remains important to eat enough carbohydrates during and in the hour after a ride to keep your glycogen stores filled with fuel.
Specific Workouts
Cyclists who start a workout without a game plan may not see good results like those who do begin with a specific plan or goal in mind. Relying on a training plan, with a schedule for each workout, allows you to develop a different aspect of fitness. Interval riding helps develop speed and endurance, while a hill workout builds strength and speed as you prepare for a hilly race.
Group Rides
Road racing demands that a cyclist develop strong bike handling skills and be a savvy pack rider. Group rides not only help push you to develop into a stronger rider, but they also help you gain comfort and confidence when riding in a tight pack or drafting another cyclist. Pack riding helps you learn to conserve energy during your race. Many group rides also include friendly sprints or practice attacking uphill. If you race, make training with a group part of your cycling routine.