After a long break from blogging, I’m back—with purpose.

Over the past couple of years, road cycling has quietly but profoundly reshaped my daily life. What started as a barely thought-out promise to my dad—that I’d tag along if he ever committed to riding Halvvättern instead of his usual full Vättern—has somehow evolved into a deeply motivating pursuit of endurance, structure, and self-discovery. Now, I’m taking it one big pedal stroke further: I’m officially setting my sights on qualifying for—and racing in—the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Haute-Savoie, France, in 2027.

This blog will document the journey: the early morning rides, the FTP breakthroughs, the gear dilemmas, and the inevitable setbacks. I’ll share what’s working, what’s not, and how I’m managing the long climb from weekend warrior to world-championship hopeful.

The Plan: Three Years of Purpose

This isn’t just about riding more. I’ve created a structured, periodized training plan that builds over three years. Here’s the overview:

2025 — The Foundation Year

• Focus: Aerobic base, strength durability, and consistent training volume.
• Cycling Goal: Raise FTP to ~225 watts.
• Running Goal: Get comfortable running
• Weekly Load: About 8–9 hours.
• Equipment: I’m staying loyal to my trusty Emonda ALR5 for now.

2026 — The Race Fitness Year

• Events: Vätternrundan (target: under 9 hours), potentially a UCI qualifier Gran Fondo as a dress rehearsal.
• Cycling Goal: Push FTP to ~250 watts and CTL (Chronic Training Load) to ~75–80.
• Running Goal: Sub-25:00 5k.
• Upgrade: A carbon disc road bike enters the mix.

2027 — The Championship Year

• Peak Goal: Qualify for and race Haute-Savoie Worlds.
• Target FTP: 305 watts at 4.2–4.3 W/kg.
• CTL: Peaking around 85–90.
• Equipment: Optimization, not overhaul—fine-tuning fit and aerodynamics.

Training Structure: Balancing Stress with Structure

Right now, I’m in the “Base 1” phase. Weekly training includes:

• Zone 2 endurance rides to build aerobic capacity.
• Strength training twice a week.
• Introductory running sessions to establish consistency.
• Long rides over the summer weekends.

Why Write This?

I need this blog. Not for motivation—though that’s a nice side effect—but for clarity. Writing keeps me honest, curious, and grounded. It lets me connect the dots between physical output and mental focus, between the data and the story.

So here we go. Three years. One goal. A lot of sweat, spreadsheets, and maybe a few smashed PRs along the way.

Stay tuned.