ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast will take their training up a gear ahead of the season restart with an “intense” camp in the Bunya Mountains.
The cycling season, which was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will begin with the Tour of the Tropics in Cairns on August 16, before the official National Racing Series returns later in the year.
In preparation, the team will soon head west into the South Burnett and tackle roads at the Bunya Mountains for a week-long training camp.
With an altitude of 1120m, team managing director Ben Kersten said riders were set to endure some intense riding.
“The camp will really test our riders mentally and physically to ensure they’re in the best possible shape to head into racing when that begins,” he said in a press release.
“It will include really intense gym strength sessions and 200km training days to build the guys and girls up physically.
“Given our team’s ethos is to focus on the wellbeing of our athletes off the bike, we will also give a lot of time to team building, study and mindfulness sessions.
“This lockdown has been hard on everyone and we want to make sure our athletes have the tools to help them through this period.”
Riders will then compete in Brisbane and Sunshine Coast Cycling Club races throughout August.
It’ll be the first official local racing since the lockdown began in April.
The 2020 National Racing Series is currently scheduled to restart later in the year, pending government health updates.
During COVID-19 restrictions, the Sippy Downs-based team was busy riding online in the National Road Series on Zwift.
Rising star Maeve Plouffe snared the team’s first victory in the online NRS during the fourth round of the six event series in June.
Article by TOM THREADINGHAM – Sunshine Coast Daily
