Andy Tennant

Multi-world and European track champion, Olympic athlete and Team Canyon DHB rider Andy Tennant talks us through a typical training week…

DUAL CARRIAGEWAYS

“I have a couple of regular routes I ride. One, a 160km circuit goes out towards Worcester and another that goes over to Church Stretton and the Shropshire hills. They offer plenty of challenges – both have got decent cafes on the way. They’re the fundamentals!”

TIME PRECIOUS

“I aim to do one longer ride, a week away from a race, but it so often depends upon the time and where you are in the season. In May, for example, when you’re doing lots of the Tour Series it becomes virtually impossible as the schedule becomes so hectic.”

TRAINING ESSENTIALS

“I try and train in the morning most of the time, otherwise I just end up faffing around if I don’t get up and get out. I only use my Canyon Aeroad training bike – no modifications as such, just all the sponsors’ equipment. We do ride tubeless tyres and they’re 28mm, which most people will be a bit horrified at but we ride what we race on.”

LOW LEVELS

“On the long rides I ride ‘low’ in that I’ll deplete my carbohydrate stores the night before by doing a turbo session. I’ll sleep ‘low’ and have just an omelette and black coffee when I wake up. Otherwise, I try and stick to really boring things like porridge – that’s pretty much what I race on as well. Getting back after a training ride I mix protein powder with banana, mango, spinach, milk and water and just blitz it. If I need some more carbs I add some porridge oats.”

SPIN OFFS

“Along with the road rides I do at least two turbo sessions a week during the season – I find it quite productive so I’m quite keen on utilising the turbo as much as possible and not just to deplete my carbs. I always do specific sessions – a series of intervals or I do quite a few split days – that’s more impactful than just spinning for the sake of it.”