OTE Training Camp Road Book 2019

Mallorca 2019

Fun - Packed!

Don’t suffer kit confusion. Find out what you’ll want in your suitcase for the week.

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Reconnaissance Whet your appetite with a sneak peek of what to expect during your week on the camp.

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Your Vitals The important bits you need to know before you arrive in Palma Airport.

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Dear Riders With our first sight of snow just the tip of the iceberg (excuse the pun) and the harsh UK winter weather looming, you can relax safe in the knowledge you’ve organised your escape to warmer training climes.

Fast forward to 22nd March and you’ll be sipping a cerveza in the sunshine, defining your tan lines and knocking out 400 miles for the week; all the while racking up kudos from riding buddies - who are confined to the garage. It’s year three of the OTE Training Camp and three is an awesome crowd! It’s a sell-out with record numbers of 64 riders. There’s a big cohort of returning riders, who we’re sure will help show our newbies the ropes. For some of you the camp will allow you to squeeze in a few days of solid mileage between busy work-life commitments. For others, it’s the chance to train like a pro for a full week.

But for us all, it’s about riding our bikes, enjoying new company, improving our fuelling and recover strategies and learning a thing or two from our ride leaders. You’ll get out what you put in so be prepared to ride hard, make friends and try new things.

Any questions between now and the camp just drop us a note.

Matt & Victoria

Struggle Events | hq@ridethestruggle.com www.otesports.co.uk

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Matt Harrison - Founder of OTE “I had a fantastic time on last year’s camp. I loved meeting our customers and witnessing them explore their capabilities and hone their fuelling and recovery strategies. I can’t wait for this year’s camp.” www.otesports.co.uk

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Camp Goals

The purpose of a training camp is training overload; a solid block of riding - day in day out.

It’s also a cycling holiday; a chance to ditch the desk and ride your bike every day, stop for a cafe con leche and a bocadillo at your leisure and enjoy the company of likeminded riders.

The itinerary of the camp is intense and every day is different: Some days are ideal for long, fast group rides, which will build endurance and enhance your group riding and bike handling skills. You’ll gain experience of riding in the wheels and how to conserve energy and help others. Our ride leaders are extremely experienced, skillful cyclists, so watch, learn and ask questions.

Other days we’ll head to the mountains.

This will give every rider the opportunity to climb at their own pace. The mountains of Mallorca are ideal for enhancing your pacing skills and perfecting your descending. You can use the mountains as an opportunity for a long interval session but remember, the mountains are still part of a long day. Don’t ride too hard and burn out 30 miles from home.

Top Tips

You don’t need to be King of the Mountains every day. Pick and choose your moments to ride hard and to kick back. It’s a long week so conserve your energy.

The week can take its toll. Don’t peak too early and burn yourself out towards the latter part of the week as we will be building up to some hard rides.

Christina Wiejak - Camp Rider “The best thing about the OTE Training Camp is the riding, the place and the people! You will have a week without having to think about anything other than your riding.”

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Team Work

Every rider is different and will feel different from one day to the next. You may be feeling strong on the days a fellow group member is struggling - and vise versa. Cycling is a team sport. Be prepared to work as a team. Each group will have a ride leader and a ride support rider.

However, they don’t have eyes in the back of their heads. If you find yourself towards the back of the group with a rider struggling to hold the wheel please shout up and don’t let the rider drop off the back.

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What to Pack?!

• Shorts and jerseys • Gilet • Long-sleeve jersey • Base layer • Waterproof jacket • Arm/leg warmers • Mitts • Socks • Cycling shoes • Helmet • Water bottles • Spare inner tubes • Tools: pump, tyre levers, multi-tool • Bike (if not hiring). Please make sure it is

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in full working order and has been serviced.

• Bike computer/Garmin • Pedals (if required) • Passport • Boarding passes • EHIC • Travel insurance documents covering you for medical/accident cover • Energy bars, gels and powder • Protein bars/drink • Chamois cream!!!

• Ibuprofen • Casual clothing • Coat (evenings are surprising cold) • Travel wash/washing machine tablets

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Arriving 1. On arriving at Palma Airport, retrieve your luggage from the luggage belt. If you are bringing your own bike this will be available for collection at another area (usually the very end of the luggage hall).

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hotel, check in at the desk and retrieve your room key and bike store key.

4. There will be water provided in your room for the first night. Please DO NOT drink the tap water.

2. Leave via Exit C where you will be greeted by the team. If you do not see an OTE representative holding up a branded sign please do not move from Exit C.

5. You will need to build your bike or collect your hire bike. Depending upon your arrival time you’ll then have chance to go for a leg loosener or join Antony’s ride to the Caves (see itinerary).

3. You will then be transfered from the airport to the hotel. On arrival at the

The welcome meeting will then be held after dinner at 20:30 in the hotel bar.

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A Typical Day

You’ll find our reserved OTE Training Camp tables in the dining room where we all meet for breakfast every morning. Please don’t wear your cycling kit to the dining hall. Following breakfast there will be time to change into your kit before the rides, which begin promptly at 9:30am from outside the bike room. We’ll then assemble into groups for the day and set off on our ride.

Saturday’s ride will leave at 10:30am from outside the bike room at the hotel, giving Friday’s late-comers the opportunity to collect hire bikes if necessary.

Following the ride will be time to shower, change, upload your pictures of the day and catch up with people back home, before we meet in the dining room for one of our favourite parts of the day... dinner! You can then enjoy a drink at the hotel bar before hitting the hay ready for another day in the saddle.

All groups will meet for lunch most days at our chosen cafe. These are inexpensive, but please ensure you bring lunch money with you each day. Water to refill your bottles will be provided at lunch stops by your ride leaders. DON’T drink tap water.

You will also need any other energy fuel required to make it to/from the lunch stop. Everyone will receive an OTE starter pack. You can also get 25% off online at www.otesports.co.uk using the code: OTETRAININGCAMP

Paul Gott - Camp Rider “Ride Leaders are excellent; making sure we push ourselves, handing out plenty of tips - safe in the knowledge I will have a great ride, a café stop and some banter on the way.”

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Etiquette

We ride in groups two abreast where safe to do so, rotating around the group to give everyone a turn on the front. If you are unfamiliar with group riding fear not; our first ride of the camp is designed to help all riders familiarise themselves with group riding and practice this skill.

You can also watch this guide: http://bit. ly/2lrm4Xw

If you would like to miss a turn on the front please rotate to the front of the group when it is your turn to do so. Then keep rotating off the front again calling change to indicate so. Do not attempt to move across the lines in the group unless safe to do so and indicating your

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intention. When on the front of the group, please do not ‘half wheel’ (ride slightly ahead of) the rider next to you.

This will only push up the pace and make the ride uncomfortable for your fellow rider. If you are feeling particularly strong you will have plenty of opportunities to push yourself at other points on the rides.

Calls: Change = rider changing on the front Car down = car approaching from ahead Car back = car approaching from behind Rider down = cyclist approaching ahead Hole/Rock = look out for this hazard Clear = safe to go (at a junction or roundabout). Don’t rely on the call.

Always look for yourself.

Slowing/Easy = slow down Stopping = the group is about to stop Single out/line out = single file Mile off = Knock a mph off the pace Out = Move out for an obstruction These calls are to be passed up and down the group so if you hear the call please repeat it.

Hand Signals: Please point out any hazards in the road to your fellow cyclists. If you are uncomfortable taking your hands off the bars please use the calls above.

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Safety

Wearing a helmet is compulsory. You will be stopped and fined by police if seen riding without one.

REMEMBER to ride on the right-hand side of the road.

We will ride two abreast where safe to do so but in some parts of the island you will see signs indicating you must ride single file. Please do not ignore these. And NEVER ride three abreast.

When descending, everyone’s bike handling capabilities are different. There are lots of hairpins when coming down off the mountain. Please descend at your

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own comfortable pace. You will not be left behind if you descend slower than other members of the group. We regroup at the top AND bottom of climbs.

You are cycling at your own risk. You must rely on your own ability in dealing with all hazards, must manage your own speed accordingly and must ride in a manner which is safe for yourself and others.

You are responsible for your own safety and you must ride responsibly to ensure the safety of other riders and road users.

You must obey the highway code and be conscientious towards other cyclists and road users.

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Meet The Team

Matt Mannakee

Camp Director & Group C Ride Support Rider

Victoria Tremlin

Camp Director & Group B Ride Support Rider

Darryl Leese

Andy Yeoman

Group A Ride Leader

Antony Stapleton Group C Ride Leader

Group B Ride Leader

Jean Croft

Group A Ride Support Rider

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itinerary

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Itinerary

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Friday 22 March Welcome to Mallorca

You’ll be greeted at the airport (Exit C) by the OTE Training Camp team and whisked off to the hotel to begin your week in paradise! On arrival at the hotel, check in, collect your hire bike or build your bike in the bike room (not your bedroom) and take it for a shake-down spin. We don’t suggest surging out for a tough ride on day one. For morning arrivals, there is the option of a group ride which will leave the bike room at 15:00 with our Ride Leader Antony. We’ll enjoy a 30-mile ride to the café and sun terrace at the Caves of Campanet. You can sip your first Cafe con Leche, top up your glycogen stores with Mallorca’s almond cake and transport yourself into Mallorca-mode. Those on the fournight camp might like to venture further for a ride to the Lighthouse via Puerto Pollensa. We’ll all meet in the dining room at our OTE tables for dinner before our welcome meeting at 20:30 in the bar.

Saturday 23 March Pedal to Porreres

Our first proper ride of the week gives us the opportunity to shake out our legs, get everyone acquainted with each other, learn to ride comfortably in the group and on the right-hand side of the road.

Our route will take us into the heart of the island, through traditional Mallorcan villages that have barely changed in a hundred years. You’ll be able to spot the south coast of the island, before turning back North for our lunch stop in Porreres for your first taste of Mallorcan cycling fayre, served up by OTE’s good friend Cati at the best cafe in town. We’ll head briskly North back from Porreres to Alcudia Port in time to catch the last 50kms of the first monument of the season, Milan-San Remo, over a welldeserved cold beer.

Mileage: ~80miles Lunch: Porreres, ~50 miles

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Sunday 24 March Time to Climb

Our first foray into the mountains follows a long flat traverse of the whole island from east to west. Group B&C will take the long drag to Esporles, before the action explodes on the Coll d’en Claret with smooth hairpins and stunning views over Palma Bay. After lunch in Valldemossa we descend, only to climb back up to the double summit of the Coll d’Honor high above Bunyola and the Coll d’Orient high above Alaro. We’ll then gradually lose height to pick our way along the foothills of the mountains.

Group A will turn north-west after a brief coffee stop in Santa Maria and ride up to Bunyola before re-joining the route tackling the climbs of the Coll d’Honor and the Coll d’Orient, with lunch in Alaro.

Mileage: A: ~70miles; B&C: ~98miles Lunch: A: Alaro ~44miles; B&C: Valldemossa ~52 miles Coffee Stop: B&C: Caimari ~82 miles Coll d’en Claret (499m), Coll d’Honor (550m), Coll d’Orient (498m)

Monday 25 March Sa Calobra

Although it’s only a 70 mile ride, it’s a tough route, with plenty of climbing to test the legs. En route you’ll tackle another iconic Mallorcan climb, the Coll de sa Batalla. You’ll negotiate the technical descent of Sa Calobra, which will test your concentration, before turning around and heading straight back up. Those familiar with the climb can test their fitness on the hunt for a new PR, while newbies have the chance to benchmark themselves. Please concentrate when on Sa Calobra.The road is open to traffic and another rider, car or coach could be around each hairpin.

Mileage: ~70miles Coffee Stop: Options to refuel at the Petrol Station, Love Shack, Sa Ruta Verde.

Coll de sa Batalla (576mts) Coll dels Reis (682mts)

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Tuesday 26 March Recover Ride/Yoga/ Home Time

For all those leaving today, please see one of the OTE Training Camp staff members for your transfer time. All transfers will leave from outside the hotel reception. For the rest of us, today couldn’t come sooner! There’s a whole host of fantastic destinations for our rest day ride. Pizza in the quiet coastal spot of Son Serra de Marina, oversized cake slices at the picturesque Cala San Vicente or Al Canada to name another coffee haunt! 30 miles of easy riding may seem an irrelevance now, but after some tough days of riding on the camp, you’ll savour this. Once back at the hotel, you’ll have the opportunity to relax on the lawn with a yoga session taken by Susan from OTE. In the afternoon you’ll have chance to do your laundry and check out the many cycling shops with lots of new kit and cycling goodies to take home as mementos.

Wednesday 27 March

Queen Stage

Today is the ‘big one’. It’s become an OTE Training Camp tradition that we tackle this epic route and test our fitness over the ascents. This major mountain circuit takes in the highest roads on the island.

We’ll cross the island to Santa Maria, then head north to tackle Valldemossa.

We then join the high altitude coast road, which takes us back to Soller. We’ll have lunch on the cafe terrace in Deia, perhaps the most beautiful village on the island. From Soller it’s onto ‘the big one’!

Puig Major is the longest, and highest, 16km in length, topping out at 880m.

Save something for the rolling mountain road past Sa Calobra to home.

Mileage: ~92miles Lunch: Deia, ~45 miles Coffee Stop: Love Shack ~63 miles Valldemossa Village (401mts) Tunel de Monaber (871mts) Coll de sa Batalla (576mts)

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Thursday 28 March All Roads Lead to Randa

Group A will ride direct to Randa via Algaida, where we will stop briefly for coffee before embarking on the climb to the Monastery for lunch. We’ll then descend to Montuiri and home via centre of the island and the marshes. Group B&C will take in the whole width of the island. Small, quiet lanes take us to Cala Pi on the southern coast road and lunch at restaurant Cas Busso. From there it’s a short ride back North to tackle the fiercely steep side of the climb known as Randa, 500m up to the monastery of Cura for coffee in the clouds. Almost done we have a brisk run back across the island for the final time and a sprint across the marshes.

Mileage: A: ~75miles; B&C: ~95miles Lunch: A: Monastery, ~43miles; B&C: Cala Pi, ~50miles Coffee Stop: B&C: Monastery of Cura Santuari de Cura (534mts)

Friday 29 March Home Time

Today is the start of your much-needed rest week. It’s time to rest the body and let it absorb the training and adapt to become fitter and stronger. Enjoy one last big breakfast before flying home ready to take the UK cycling season by the horns.

Please see one of the OTE Training Camp staff members for your transfer time. All transfers will leave from outside the hotel reception.

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DIARY

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Diary

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DIARY

Friday 22 March

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Saturday 23 March

Distance:

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Sunday 24 March

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Monday 25 March

Distance:

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Tuesday 26 March

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Wednesday 27 March

Distance:

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Thursday 28 March Distance: Ascent:

Nutrition Strategy:

Get In Touch The OTE Training Camp team are on Diary:

hand to ensure a hassle-free holiday. For anything you need leading up to or during the camp please contact the Struggle Events team: hq@ridethestruggle.com Victoria Tremlin: 07854 661277 Matthew Mannakee: 07748 632348

Order Supplies Everyone will receive an OTE starter pack during the welcome meeting.

You will also need any other energy fuel required. We suggest you invest in a bag of energy powder, a tube of Hydro tabs, some protein bars/powder and any necessery bars and gels of your choice. Get 25% off online at www.otesports.co.uk using the code: OTETRAININGCAMP

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