PRT Training Camp 2024

Oct 08 | ( 0 ) Comments

This past weekend, the Padyak Racing Team (PRT) gathered for an exciting training camp in San Diego, CA, and I had the privilege of not only leading a group rides but also presenting the 2024 Great Western Training Program (GWTP) on Saturday. As well as leading the team in a day of Race Skill Drills on Sunday in Chula Vista.. As both a USA Cycling and TrainingPeaks Certified Coach, it was an honor to guide the team through several important drills and share valuable insights into the upcoming GWTP, which starts on October 27, 2024.

Friday’s Welcome Ride:

We kicked off the weekend with an afternoon ride that began at 4 pm from Trident Coffee in Imperial Beach, heading toward Coronado. The scenic ride lasted about two hours, with a relaxed stop at Coronado Coffee Company.

While the riders enjoyed their drinks, I indulged in a Ghirardelli hot chocolate and a chocolate croissant. It was a great moment of camaraderie before heading back to Trident to wrap up the day.

I was lucky enough to had been joined by Jacobo, a supporter of the team, and assitant coach to GWTP, past vice-president of the team, and just great all around person. He just had hip surgery, so I picked him up before the event and he waited on the starting point for us to ride back. Just to spend some great time with the team.

Saturday’s Endurance Ride & GWTP Presentation:

Saturday’s main event was a long endurance ride from Pier 32 Marina in National City to Jamul via the 94 Highway, looping back using Otay Lakes Road and Bonita. After completing the Jamul Climb, the group was divided into an A and B group. I took charge of Group B, focusing on paceline drills to improve team coordination, power management, and communication—essential skills for race-day performance. The drills allowed the riders to practice smooth rotations while maintaining steady power, critical for long, challenging rides and races.

After the ride, I had the opportunity to give a detailed presentation on the upcoming 2024 Great Western Training Program (GWTP). This program, which has been a cornerstone of the San Diego cycling community for over 30 years, is designed to prepare athletes for the next race season. I outlined the key aspects of the program, emphasizing its focus on endurance, uphill intervals, time trial preparation, and race strategy. Riders were particularly excited to hear about the nine structured sessions, each progressively building on the last to help them peak at the right time for the racing season.

GWTP Presentation:

Watch the presenation video at Youtube (Click Here)

Sunday’s Race Skill Drills:

Sunday brought the excitement of race-specific drills at Hunte Avenue, where I was responsible for the entire session. With over 20 participants, the focus of the day was teamwork and refining race tactics. We started with a warm-up lap, followed by a range of structured drills, including single and double paceline rotations, sprint lead-outs, and attack/counter-attack simulations.

One of the key drills involved organizing riders into small teams for lead-outs, where each team worked together to deliver a sprinter to the finish line with precise timing. Another drill focused on attack and counter-attack strategies, allowing the riders to practice responding to breakaways and regrouping with their teammates. These drills are essential for building race-day readiness, teaching riders how to manage their efforts, react to moves from opponents, and execute team strategies under pressure.

Afterwards we went to Panera Bread for a quick lunch, and for everyone to say good bye.

Throughout the weekend, the focus remained on teamwork, communication, and skill-building. It was rewarding to see the riders work together, supporting each other through every drill while maintaining a high level of energy and enthusiasm. The strong sense of camaraderie and shared determination was evident, making this camp not only a success from a training perspective but also a bonding experience for the team. It also served as a great introduction to the principles of the upcoming GWTP. By combining long endurance rides, structured drills, and race simulations, the riders are now better prepared to tackle the more intense sessions that will follow in the coming weeks.

I’m excited to continue working with this talented group of athletes and can’t wait to see how they apply what they’ve learned to their racing season. See you at GWPT this off-season!

Thank you for reading!

Gilberto Cortez - USA Cycling & TrainingPeaks Certified Coach