Being a professional cyclist is one of the most physically demanding jobs around. Training is a year-round pursuit where it’s common to spend 20-plus hours a week in the saddle of the best road bikes, and when they are racing – whether it’s a one-day event such as Paris-Roubaix or a three-week slog like Le Tour de France – it’s rare to ride less than 100 miles per outing.
As a keen runner, cyclist, and triathlete who has completed everything from marathons to multi-day bikepacking trips, I consider myself reasonably capable on two wheels. But my training log doesn’t even scratch the surface compared to someone who does it day-in-day-out for a job.
