July 28th, 2025

Cooling Strategies At Le Tour Femmes With CANYON//SRAM

Athletes reach exhaustion 26% faster in hotter conditions. That’s because as core temp rises, the body begins prioritizing delivery of blood to the skin for cooling above delivery to muscles for performance. Heart rate also needs to increase to pump more blood to the skin.  

While most teams at the Tour de France Femmes are doing everything they can to stay cool during the racing itself, CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto are also implementing cooling strategies before and after each stage of the race. Cooling before each stage prolongs the eventual rise in core temp once the race begins and cooling after each stage prevents the extension of unnecessary heat strain which helps aid in recovery.

Through CORE's partnership with CANYON//SRAM, we are excited to bring you exclusive access to the team’s warm-up and cool-down protocols, written directly from their Racing Performance Director, Dan Fleeman, below. 

Pre-Race Warm Up

Individual warm up strategies set by personal coaches For TTs and Team performance managers for Road Stages. The aim is to develop muscular coordination and develop aerobic metabolism prior to intense exercise. This must be paired with continuous monitoring of CORE sensors prior/during/post warm up. Any warm up strategies must avoid core temps surpassing 38.2 C degrees. If temperature increases beyond this then warm up routine must be adapted to reflect elevated core, reducing intensity and/or duration of warm up in order to maintain adequate core temps. Warm ups must end around 10-12min before start (strategic for TTs).

Road Warm Up

 3 min @ 50-60% FTP, 1 min @ 70% , 2 min @ 50%, 1 min @ 80%, 2 min @ 50%, 1 min @ 90%, 2 min @ 50%, 1 min @ 100%, 2 min @ 50% 

Steps To Take Before Each Race Start

Ice vests to be worn in the lead up to start of race. In increased temps this requires riders to wear ice vests prior to starting warm up and at all times in the lead up. 

Warm ups must take place in the shade, with fans and wearing CORE ice vests. Core vests must be worn all the way to the start line and riders’ jerseys must be wet/soaked at the start of the race. 

Post-Race Cooling

Reducing core temperatures as soon as possible after stages will enhance performance and drastically increase recovery rates. To do this riders must start gradual cool downs on Trainers/Rollers which are in the shade and with fans ~15min at <50% ftp. 

The aim is to bring the CORE temp down below 37.5 C degrees gradually after the stage while consuming adequate nutritional intake to optimise recovery. 

Strategy After Crossing The Line

  • Sugar drink / water consumed after crossing the line 
  • Ice Vest on – cool water on skin and/or over head 

CYCLE TO BUS

  • Consume Recovery drink 
  • Cool down on Turbo using the protocol set out, gradually reducing body temp while sending blood to the working muscles to aid recovery. 
  • Ice Socks and/or water on skin to help bring down skin temperature. 
  • Keep Ice vests on during cool down 
  • Shower – take a cold shower after cool down  

Maintain optimal hydration at all times throughout the day. 

Consuming ice slushies which are high in sugar content will also aid muscle glycogen replenishing along with reducing core temps post race. 

CORE sensors must be paired at all times and during warmups and cool downs a CORE page on your hammerhead must be shown to maintain continual monitoring.

Cooler Is Faster

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