One bite leads to another. So, after Scartezzini's words on the strength gap between the men of the quartet who worked hard in the gym and the road cyclists returning from the Giro, we called Marco Compri into question, a key figure at the Federal Study Center, in charge of the gym work. Realizing that the old, somewhat dreamy approach of "grab your bike and go" is one thing and another thing is to prepare the Olympics 2020 on the trackYou're not making anything up!
Scartezzini is right: are hard times ahead for Viviani and his associates?
The guys have a protocol for strength training, whether they're coming from the Giro or have been to Livigno for training. Of course, when you arrive after three weeks of racing, it's necessary. an adaptation phase before approaching jobs close to the maximum, especially with complex exercises like the squat, which requires a perfect control of the execution technique, otherwise you risk getting hurtIt's no coincidence that during the days in Livigno, Elia loaded with the press and not with the squat.
Let's talk about him, then, since you follow him directly. What did doing the Giro mean to him?
He's built up significant strength endurance, so now it's time to call back his maxes. Those who were already training in Livigno have maintained their confidence with the movements and their affinity with the loads. When he went up to Livigno after the Giro, Elia began this adaptation phaseWe are in constant contact with him and Diego Bragato and we agreed that last week would be used to regain confidence with the gesture, referring to the squat.
Is this all the gym is?
No, exactly. We also work on core stability. On complementary exercises related to the functionality of gestures. Then explosiveness is developed by making various types of jumpsNot everyone is familiar with the gym, so the work isn't so much about trying to build a workout for its own sake, but about protecting the rider.
So what's the point of going to run the Adriatica Ionica Race?
From a metabolic point of view, it will be a resumption of intensity, while maintaining the frequency of workIt's a three-day race, it doesn't change anything and it can be easily fitted into the work schedule. Instead in the three-week race the size of the strength maximals is reduced because resistance prevails.
Is the Giro and then the quality work better or what Scartezzini and the others did?
There is no better or worse, you have to manage the situations that ariseAs coaches, we monitor the values for quality and what we cannot cover with competitions, we cover with training.
What is the advantage of doing a Giro d'Italia?
The prerogative, I don't know if it's right to talk about an advantage, is that At the Giro a large amount of work is put together, which will then allow the athlete to concentrate on very high quality work, knowing that they are standing on a very solid foundation. The others will need to add volume and it is the reason why Villa considered taking them to race in Sardinia.
Are the Giro and gym training comparable in any way?
Let's make a premise. When working on strength, we think about maximums, strength endurance and strength resistance.Elia certainly worked a lot on strength endurance at the Giro, work that the others in Livigno did on their bikes. The experiences are comparable; the important thing is that the end point is the same for everyone. In about ten days we will have to align them knowing that they are all at the same point or with a short distance between them.
Will this force work continue all the way to Tokyo or will it stop at some point?
As long as we can, we'll continue to call on the force. We don't know what it will be like in Japan, but if that's not possible, we'll continue to work on the explosive component through jumps. It must be said that once the maximum is reached, the situation remains stable for 10 days.
Do the gym and bike remain integrated or does one take over?
They are and must be integrated and complementary. The non-specific component, that is, the one with a preponderance of the gym, may be used more when the event is far away. Then, As the appointment approaches, the specific component, that is, the bike, will be intensified. We now have a gym in Montichiari, and combining the two phases is much easier. However, there's never just one or the other.
And in any case, the approach to the gym has changed a lot…
Remarkably. Athletes' awareness has changed, who once used the gym in winter and only a few sprinters made recalls in the off periods of the season. And it is the very setting of the work in the gym has changed, which allows us to do jobs that aren't possible by bike.
