There are a lot of opinions about weight training when it comes to endurance athletes. I’m here to give you some insights, debunk some myths, and help you form your own opinion - because ultimately - each athlete is individual.
July 2, 2021
Tejay van Garderen debunks weight training myths
In modern training, it's impossible to avoid the gym and weight training. Traditionally, cyclists have failed to appreciate its importance, but not any more. From climbers to sprinters, strength training has universal benefits - and keen to share his experience and tips, we got Tejay van Garderen's take as he debunked common cycling myths about this much maligned training tool.
Myth 1: "I shouldn’t lift weights because I will gain weight”.
Ask any pro body builder how hard it is to gain muscle size and mass. The number of weights you need to lift is one thing, but more importantly, the number of calories you must consume to be able to support and sustain that muscle mass.
Simply put - as long as you're not over-eating, you don't need to worry about gaining mass. Elite body builders are constantly fuelling the muscle mass they're building. This is what enables the muscles to grow, but that doesn't mean they're any stronger than muscles targeted without that calorific intake - you will be stronger, but you won't see an increase.