"It's going to be difficult for these guys to remain in shape for a long period of time" - Johan Bruyneel shocked by training intensity from World Tour riders in Spain

Johan Bruyneel and Spencer Martin discussed the World Tour teams and their training camps that have taken place over the past few weeks in eastern Spain. The Belgian was surprised with how fast pros and amateurs are riding nowadays and questions why they look to show such good before the season even begins.

Bruyneel was in Calpe and also experienced the Coll de Rates, which saw Tadej Pogacar take the KOM this Friday. Bruyneel also saw UAE Team Emirates out training in the climb. "I got passed by eight jets basically, they passed me like Formula 1 cars, the Tour de France team of UAE, the eight riders of the Tour de France team of UAE with Pogacar," he said on 'The Move' podcast. "They passed me like bullets and they're all here, it's quite impressive. I'm actually quite impressed not just about the professionals [...] is the second level riders and sometimes even amateur riders and recreational riders how fast they go".

Hundreds of riders travel to this area of Spain over the month of December, whilst dozens of pro teams and their own riders usually spend a week or two doing team building, organizing schedules, making plans for the season, delivering and adjusting equipment, doing medical testing and much more...

The area features the constant buzz of pro cycling and Bruyneel point out how he felt like many were not looking to build on their endurance whilst in Spain, but testing their form or looking to be as strong as possible already, despite the season only starting in one month and many riders only having their first goals in several months.

"There's no more slowly getting into shape. It's straight away, it's intervals, it's intensity. We've been taught differently that you need to have a base, that's changed I can completely. I agree with that it works, but I think a few old fashioned principles of having a solid foundation that you can build on progressively that should still work" he argues. "Training has changed, nutrition has changed, equipment has changed, but it's all about getting in shape quickly and then I think it's going to be difficult for these guys to remain in shape for a long period of time".