With its versatility and realistic simulation of race conditions, ROUVY has become an integral part of Lidl-Trek’s training strategy, providing riders with the tools they need to prepare effectively – regardless of location or weather conditions.
Using video of real-world routes – including all of their twists and turns, and accurate gradient profiles – ROUVY enables the team’s riders to know what to expect and when to make their move.
Expect the likes of Elisa Balsamo, Mads Pedersen, Thibau Nys and Niamh Fisher-Black to pre-ride key parts of the route before a big race.
We asked Mattias Reck, a coach in Lidl-Trek’s performance group – and himself an ex-pro – how the team uses ROUVY in its training.
Each Lidl-Trek rider incorporates indoor training to some extent, although Reck emphasises that the balance of indoor and outdoor riding is largely a matter of personal preference.
“Riders living further north in Europe or in places like Andorra during the winter tend to do more indoor riding," he says.
“It’s really up to the rider rather than the coach.
“There are many ways to use ROUVY, and all riders need or want to train indoors to some degree. How many hours they spend on it comes down to what they prefer.”
The trend for heat training – where riders train indoors without ventilation and often in winter clothing – has also contributed to a rise in turbo sessions.
“When we’re at altitude camps preparing for Grand Tours, ROUVY is perfect for riding flat indoors while also getting in heat training and reconning race stages. It’s an ideal combination,” explains Reck.
Beyond its immersive indoor experience, ROUVY plays a key role in structured workouts.
“It’s a crucial tool in winter or bad weather when riders need to complete precise workouts and target specific intensity or power,” Reck explains.
The platform is also used in mixed training sessions that combine outdoor and indoor riding. “If the weather is bad but a rider needs to train for five hours, they might do three hours outside and then two hours in front of ROUVY,” he says. “Heat sessions are often added at the end of these endurance rides.”
Indoor training is also a valuable tool for injury recovery, providing a controlled environment where intensity can be managed carefully.
“You can easily add heat to stimulate adaptation while reducing the power needed to push through an injury, such as a knee issue,” Reck says. This approach enables riders to maintain fitness while minimising strain on affected areas.
Not just for the pros
ROUVY isn’t just for the pros. It’s a great tool for amateurs too, enabling them to vary their riding, increase their fitness and reap the benefits of heat acclimation.
Its 25,000km of real-world route videos enable you to ride routes on six continents and in places you might never visit.
You can ride when it’s dark outside or the weather is bad and you too can use heat stress to stimulate performance-enhancing adaptations.
There’s a full library of structured workouts and training plans, and you can ride with or against other people worldwide and against ROUVY’s own Ghost Riders.
Sign up now for a seven-day free trial, with individual plans priced from £10.75 a month when paid annually, as well as plans for pairs and groups of riders.
You can even pause your subscription once per year for up to 180 days but still ride 20km a month for free or buy a day pass.
