“In the best conditions to perform”

Let's give a voice to those who know us best : the riders! The Sa Calobra Cycling Club is a team, your team! Today, an interview with Aurelien, who talks about his experience at the Sa Calobra Cycling Club and how challenging our camps are.

For those who don't know you, can you introduce yourself?
Aurélien Decagny : My name is Aurelien, a 34-year-old Frenchman who lives in London. I started road cycling in 2016, and I have since varied my pleasures between criterium, granfondo / sportives, triathlon and group rides with friends.

What did you think of the camp?
A.D The camp puts us in the best conditions to perform day after day! No way to fake it with the FTP test. Then each day, we receive power objectives adapted to the different difficulties. Fortunately, with the massages, the compression boots, Paul taking care of the bikes and above all the delicious meals, everything is perfect for recovering and being in good shape the next day!

Was it challenging enough for a rider like you?
A.D This is what worried me a little before coming, knowing that I normally already do around 400 - 500km per week. I even asked if it would be possible to extend at the end of the ride before coming. But that was before I met Aurelien... He knows how to push you to your limits, and will know how to motivate you to do each climb full gas. And if that's not enough, you can always go down for a few minutes with riders who are a little slower to motivate them. In the end, I was very happy to return to the base camp every day for lunch and the massage (without having done any extra)!

We say that Aurelien, our Ride Captain, did not win the Mallorca 312 (he finished 2nd) because of your crazy week?!
A.D Ha ha ha, indeed he didn't let me breathe at all, but neither did I! I will always remember the coffee ride when we were supposed to ride slowly, to "recover". Aurelien attacked from the start of Sa Batalla, I counter-attacked on the flat halfway through, and he beat his record on the climb (which he had achieved during a road race I think). We really made great efforts every day, whether on Sa Batalla, Puig Major, during the time trial in Sa Calobra where I managed to hang on to the end, but also on the shorter climbs to the sanctuaries and to the Cap of Formentor. So it doesn't really surprise me that he had cramps 2 days after the camp!

You came very close to a victory in the Alps. The third round will be the good one?
A.D I'll do my best! I think that last year, in Morzine, the level was even higher than in Mallorca, with big climbs every day, including a couple of hors-category, and a few successful KOM hunts! We both gave it our all in the Joux Plane time trial, but I was overtaken in the sprint in the last corner. I hope to finally beat him at the top of the Pierre Carrée in 2023!