Road · Intermediate

Arrive at a 100-mile day fit enough to enjoy it, in 12 weeks

B2VT — Gran Fondo Plan — for riders targeting the B2VT or any long one-day gran fondo.

5.0(4 ratings on TrainingPeaks)

Length: 12 wk
Load: 6.2 hrs/wk
Level: Intermediate
Discipline: Road
Price: $59 one-time

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What you get

By the end of 12 weeks

A build from three to five days a week on the bike, so the volume arrives gradually
One day a week of off-bike body maintenance and core work
Progressive TSS, volume and intensity, with a taper the week of the event
A three-weeks-on, one-week-regeneration rhythm that keeps the work absorbable
A plan that has taken riders through 134 miles and 8,000 feet of climbing

Written for the B2VT, and for any rider staring down a long one-day event and quietly wondering whether they can finish it.

Twelve weeks that build from three days a week on the bike to five, with the volume, TSS and intensity all climbing progressively toward a taper in the week of the event itself.

Who this plan is for

Riders targeting the B2VT specifically, or any comparable gran fondo or century. You do not need to be a racer — this plan has taken riders through 134 miles and 8,000 feet of climbing whose goal was simply to finish strong.

Around 6.2 hours a week, building across the twelve weeks.

How the plan is structured

The plan runs a three weeks working, one week regeneration cycle. Load climbs through each three-week block, then backs off so the training actually gets absorbed rather than accumulated as fatigue.

Alongside the riding, one day a week is given to off-bike body maintenance and core strengthening — the work that keeps a rider comfortable in hour six.

The final week is a taper into the event.

Adjusting the plan

If you need to cut a session down, remove an entire interval rather than shortening every interval. The length of each effort is doing a specific job; a session of four 10-minute efforts trimmed to four 6-minute efforts is a different workout, while three 10-minute efforts is the same workout with less of it.

Training guides

New training guides, as they go up

Shayne writes about how training actually works — thresholds, intervals, fuelling, strength. Get each new guide when it is published.

Who wrote this plan

Shayne Gaffney

If you have ridden a structured workout in Zwift, there is a good chance Shayne wrote it. He authored around 85% of Zwift's workout library, along with the "Build Me Up", "Pebble Pounder" and "201: Your First 5K" plans — and he wrote every session in this one.

USA Cycling Level 1 · Precision Nutrition L1 · Published in Bicycling, Triathlete, TrainingPeaks and Zwift Insider

More about Shayne

Results

Riders who did B2VT — Gran Fondo Plan

I had never ridden 134 miles with 8000 feet of climbing before. I was not sure I had any business even considering this challenge being an average rider at best… My goal was to finish the ride and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I felt great and my time was better than I expected it to be. At 61 years old I generally feel better riding and climbing is much easier.
Amy E.B2VT · 134 miles · Structured training plan

Read all reviews

The thinking behind this plan

Keto or carb loading before a long event?Fat adaptation against traditional carb loading for endurance events — what the research supports, and the ceiling a high-fat diet runs into.
The ketogenic diet and endurance performanceWhat keto does to body composition, what it does to the ability to go hard, and whether it is worth it for an endurance athlete.
Nutrient timing for endurance athletesWhen to eat around training — pre-ride, on the bike and in recovery — and why timing changes what the same food does for you.

FAQ

Questions about this plan

Do I need a power meter for this plan?

A power meter makes the targets precise, but it is not required. Every session lists heart rate and perceived-effort targets alongside the power target.

Does it sync with Zwift, Garmin and Wahoo?

Yes. Every workout is a structured file. Connect TrainingPeaks to Zwift and the day's session appears in your workout list; connect Garmin or Wahoo and it pushes to your head unit.

Do I need TrainingPeaks Premium?

No. A free TrainingPeaks account is enough to buy this plan and follow every workout. Premium adds deeper analysis but nothing this plan depends on.

What if I miss a session or a week?

Shift the remaining plan forward on your TrainingPeaks calendar and carry on. The plan is built in blocks, so a missed session will not break the progression.

What if the plan turns out to be wrong for me?

Plans are covered by the TrainingPeaks refund policy. With the author's approval, a plan can be exchanged for another of equal value from the same author. Refund requests must be made in writing to TrainingPeaks within 24 hours of purchase with a detailed explanation, and are assessed case by case. If you are unsure this plan fits, get in touch before you buy and we will point you at the right one.

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