With that Lake Jindabyne start line getting closer and closer we caught up with ambassador and Classics legend, Giles to talk all things Snowy!
The second Snowy Classic is on April 1, 2023. Can you tell us what course you’ll be riding and how your training has been going? The Maxi Classic (it seemed like a good idea at the time of registration!). The training has been based on an approach of ‘shock and awe’ after having come back from a month off the bike after a Christmas break spent in the dark depths of winter in the UK!
After experiencing the alpine climbs and particularly Beloka at the inaugural Snowy Classic, how are you preparing for the epic climbing at the 2023 event? By spending less time in the pub and more time on the bike in search of hills.
Not many of us have the benefit of living near long alpine climbs, how do you get vertical metres into your legs in more urban environments? There is nasty little hill in Sydney called Crosslands which has been my go-to training ground for the Snowy Classic and in the past for the Peaks Challenge.
Your advice for for riders thinking about the Snowy Classic but yet to register? Having done it for the first time last year I can highly recommend it to anyone thinking of signing up – the spectacular scenery, the challenging climbs and the superb atmosphere back in the event village. What is not to like about that?
OK, five quick questions-
1. Your weekly kilometre, training hours or altitude targets? 200 to 250km and 3000m+ vertical
2. Your ultimate Snowy Classic bike and set up? My trusty Trek Domane with some very forgiving gearing
3. What’s your preferred nutrition hydration for a 60 to 100km training ride? H2O
4. Coffee before, during or after a ride? Always before and after a ride …. And sometimes during
5. Top recovery tip? An afternoon nap!
Join Giles at the 2023 Snowy Classic! Register here.
