"I've been hearing from numerous riders within Team Visma that there seems to be a notable change happening" – A star from UAE hints that competitors are reconsidering their training strategies.
For a significant part of the last ten years, Team Visma | Lease a Bike has constructed its competitive identity around a distinctly polarized training approach. This method, characterized by long, easy rides complemented by short bursts of high intensity, has played a crucial role in propelling the Dutch team to the forefront of men's stage racing. However, insights from within the peloton suggest this perspective might no longer be as clear-cut as it once was.
Florian Vermeersch of UAE Team Emirates has shared his observations, suggesting that riders from Visma may be shifting away from their traditional methods. He notes that many are beginning to favor prolonged efforts in zone 2 instead of adhering strictly to the polarized training model.
A transformation driven by the evolution of racing
Vermeersch candidly states, "I've heard from several Visma riders about this shift," as reported by Wieler Revue. His input is drawn from informal conversations rather than official communications from the team.
His comments reflect a broader contemplation of how elite cycling has transformed over time. In today's premier competitions, the decisive moments increasingly arise from sustained exertion rather than isolated bursts of maximum effort. Vermeersch points out that this reality is shaping the way athletes train.
"This winter, I focused heavily on enhancing my durability so that I could maintain power even after enduring significant fatigue. What one can still accomplish after four hours of intense racing has become vital in the current landscape of cycling."
This emphasis on endurance resonates closely with the training ethos that UAE Team Emirates has adopted, which has included extensive zone 2 riding as a core element of their regimen for several seasons.
Not entirely discarding the previous model
Vermeersch is cautious about presenting this discussion as a straightforward replacement of one training methodology with another. He highlights that different athletes respond uniquely to various training stimuli, and he acknowledges that Visma's historical focus on VO2max training has indeed yielded impressive results at the highest level.
"I am an athlete who can handle considerable training loads and fatigue, so for me, zone 2 training suits me well. However, I wouldn't claim that Visma's VO2max method is incorrect."
In this light, the perceived shift is less about completely abandoning the polarized model and more about adjusting its emphasis. The nature of modern racing, which often features a relentless pace right from the start, leaves little room for riders who excel only in isolated scenarios.
"Nowadays, major races are so intensely contested from the beginning that it's crucial to conserve as much energy as possible for the later stages," Vermeersch elaborated, noting that the focus on endurance has transcended individual teams, becoming a collective goal across the WorldTour.
No simple fix
Despite the fascination surrounding Visma's evolving training practices, Vermeersch also downplayed the notion that training methodologies alone account for the performance disparities among teams. "No team is solely training in zone 1 during a winter camp in Calpe; they're all pushing themselves into zone 2 or even zone 3."
To him, the differences between opposing training philosophies are not as vast as they might seem from the outside. Ultimately, he argues, what distinguishes teams is not merely the training zone or model but the caliber of talent implementing these approaches. "I’m not suggesting that zone 2 training is a magic solution. Our primary advantage is that we possess some of the finest cyclists globally."
Whether the rumored shift within Visma signifies a substantial philosophical transformation or is simply a natural adaptation to the demands of contemporary racing, Vermeersch's insights highlight a larger truth: at the top levels of the WorldTour, even time-tested strategies are rarely fixed.
