Group rides or solo? Former coach of Mathieu van der Poel gives tips on how to get the most out of your training

Kristof de Kegel, sports scientist and coach at Alpecin-Deceuninck and former trainer of Mathieu van der Poel, has shared valuable insights on effective training strategies for cyclists. Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, de Kegel emphasised the importance of balancing group rides with solo training to maximise performance.

"Cycling a lot in a group is nice, but it is often not a productive training. You can compare it to electric cycling. You do grind out a lot of kilometers, but the quality of the training is low. You cycle neatly in the wheel all the time, feel little resistance from wind, for example, and end your training with an average of 130 to 140 watts," he explained.

De Kegel highlighted the risks of developing a false sense of fitness from consistently training in a group setting. "You will have a false positive feeling about your condition if you always train with groups. Unless that peloton is cycling above your level, but doing that systematically is not good either," he said.

To achieve meaningful progress, de Kegel recommends incorporating solo training sessions into a cyclist’s routine. "That is why it is often best to do your training alone regularly, at least if you want to complete your schedule," he advised.