The plan, at the level of years
This is what four years looks like when written down.
I’m 58. I returned to road cycling a few months ago after years away. The goal at the end of this is the Transcontinental Race in 2030: roughly 4,000 km, self-supported, across Europe in about two weeks. It’s the kind of thing that breaks most people who attempt it. The acceptance rate is low. The finish rate is lower.
But four years is also a long time. Long enough to do this slowly. Long enough that the plan can be honest about what comes first.
So:
Year 1 is foundation. Aerobic base, structured Z2, weight trending toward sensible. The first 200 km brevet in spring 2027 is the milestone.
Year 2 is distance. The first multi-day self-supported ride. Smaller events. Bags, sleep on the bike, fuelling for fifteen hours instead of two.
Year 3 is the first proper ultra: the North Sea coast in self-supported form. About 1,900 km, mostly flat, generous time cap. Honest test of whether the build is working.
Year 4 is the whole way. TCR 2030. Or the attempt.
I’ll write here about what works and what doesn’t. The honest version, not the highlight reel. That’s the project. One pedal stroke, then another, for a thousand days.
Four years.