CycleOps analyses power output and performances at TdF

Power-based training is not just for the professionals and this year during the 2007 Tour de France, US company Saris is hoping to use the world's biggest bike race as a means of promoting this highly effective form of training.

Saris is the name behind the CycleOps brand of power measurement technology, and the group's marketing directory, David Cathcart, said, "we've partnered with well known cycling and fitness experts, such as Allen Lim, Robbie Ventura of Vision Quest Coaching, Sally Edwards of HeartZones and Angie Sturtevant of Specialists in Sports Performance, to create the CycleOps PowerTour for the 2007 Tour de France".

These experts are combining to provide daily video training tips on relevant cycling and fitness topics, such as 'Testing Made Simple', 'Nutrition for a Long Ride', 'Thermal Regulation', 'Hydration', 'Pacing Strategy' and well as innovative recipes for mid-ride foods that the pros actually eat. In all, there are twenty-one training tips that will be presented daily on via its website.

Cathcart added, "We have created an interactive Q&A section for the CycleOps PowerTour where visitors can write in and have a limited number of questions answered online by our experts daily". And the CycleOps PowerTour also features contests where visitors can win prizes including a CycleOps Power Pro300PT Indoor Cycle, CycleOps PowerTap SL2.4 power meter, CycleOps Power Fluid2 Trainer as well as CycleOps Power jerseys, shorts and T-shirts."