Three-time Ski Classics champion and last year’s number one skier Andreas Nygaard has started his dry land season training, and cycling is a relevant part of his training method.

Due to injuries, Andreas Nygaard, Team Ragde Charge, had to think alternatively about training in the summer season last year. Therefore, he used the bike to a far greater extent than before. Towards the 2021/22 season, he cycled several hundred kilometers a week and barely ran. In April, he won the Yellow overall bib in Ski Classics for the third time.

“It seems that cycling was not a bad solution for me last training season,” Nygaard says to langrenn.com. 

Nygaard does not agree with the claim that cycling is not effective training for a long-distance skier. 

“Among long-distance skiers, it is often thought that cycling is not a proper workout. Me, Max Novak and Emil Persson all cycled a lot last year, they a lot more than me, and we all achieved good results last winter.” 

Nygaard sees many advantages in cycling also in terms of skiing training. In his opinion, when it comes to building basic endurance, it doesn’t matter how you do it, but the time spent on it matters more. 

“I am of the opinion that the sport itself is not very important as long as you get your heart rate up and get the muscles you need for skiing to good use. The heart doesn’t notice the difference in 130 beats while cycling or running. The difference, at least compared to running, is that you have to spend many more hours cycling to get the same effect.” 

According to the Ski Classics champion, cycling maintains and develops balance and other qualities needed in skiing. In his opinion, cycling is also a viable form of exercise for skiers. 

“Many people imagine that the push-up only strengthens the upper body, but in reality, the legs are also subjected to heavy strain. Thus, cycling brings strength to the legs and also builds their endurance, which is needed for long-distance skiing,” says Nygaard. 

The Pro Tour athlete continues his reflection by saying that cycling has similarities with other training methods in skiing. 

“Cycling is kinder to the body than running, and thus you can do it for much longer. It’s also a good social way to exercise and to ride in a group is really great. The weather is often good for cycling because you have to go for a ride when the weather is right.” 

The Yellow bib champion admits, however, that the efficiency of running compared to cycling is, in his opinion, a ratio of one to two, i.e., a three-hour run is equivalent to about six hours of cycling. 

In the last training season, Nygaard cycled both on and off-road. In his opinion, both are well suited as forms of skiing training, but mountain biking is perhaps a little closer to skiing, being a more physical sport. The skier admits that in road cycling, the heart rate stays lower than in off-road, and the nature of mountain biking is more like long-distance skiing. 

“The races in the Ski Classics series are similar to mountain biking because in them, you also progress with a high average heart rate, and during the race, there are moments when you do sprints and breakaways,” says Nygaard. 

Again, road cycling is tactically closer to Ski Classics, and the draft benefit is essential as in mass start skiing. 

“When cycling on the road, you get a huge advantage if you can draft. The tactical aspects of competition are much greater in road cycling than in mountain biking. In road cycling, the whole team can take advantage of the personal qualities of different riders and thus aim for the best possible team result. Even a worse rider can carry his cards, which doesn’t happen when skiing.” 

Last year’s experiences and good results in winter skiing guarantee that Nygaard will continue with the same formula this summer as well. 

“For me, cycling is an absolutely relevant way to develop basic fitness, and I will ride a lot this summer as well. It develops fitness and strength and is a great way to spend time with good friends doing something useful,” concludes Andreas Nygaard, summarizing his cycling philosophy.