Many cyclists and teams belong to the "heavy reboot users". A prime example is Team Vorarlberg from Austria, who have been using Reboots for quite some time. Here not only the athletes but also the physios are big fans of the reboots.
In an interview with Nicolas Berton, Head Physio of Team Vorarlberg, he tells us about his work, the importance of regeneration in cycling and the use of reboots.
Learn more about the team, their achievements and philosophy:
How does your day as a physio with the Vorarlberg cycling team look like?
Nicolas: “As with most sports physios, there is no classic area of responsibility in cycling either. In addition to treating and preparing the regeneration tools, the tasks also include preparing the food for the races and afterwards.”
How important is rest and regeneration for the Vorarlberg cycling team and how do you promote it as a physio?
Nicolas: “Recreation is very important to us. The drivers are professionals and know many tools to speed up the recovery processes. In addition to active regeneration through the cool-down on the bike, we use reboots, the classic ice bath, massages and osteopathic techniques as passive measures.
Most riders use tech gadgets that allow you to monitor heart rate variability and thus have a good tool to monitor the current state of recovery. This will help them see if an extra rest day is needed. It also makes it easier to identify overtraining and illness.”
What is the balance between active training and regeneration during a week for a Radteam Vorarlberg rider?
Nicolas: "On a training day with a five-hour ride, which includes the active cool-down, there is about an hour of regeneration through mobilization and fascial stretching, as well as the use of reboots or appointments with therapists."
What added value do the reboots offer the cyclists from Team Vorarlberg, but also you as a physio?
Nicolas: “Reboots are a huge relief for me. This doubles the treatment time for each athlete. Before/after the physiotherapeutic treatment, you can go directly to the reboots and we thus promote the removal of lactate.”
Especially in stage races, regeneration can become a challenge. How do you use reboots here?
Nicolas: "They are an important tool for us, especially in stage races. As soon as we're back in the hotel and the boys are showered and fed, the first ones lie down in the reboots. From then on it's a flying change. Some go to physiotherapy treatment , while the others are in the reboots. There we mainly use the programs for removing lactate and promoting blood circulation."
Why do the Reboots Recovery Pants make sense especially for cyclists?
Nicolas: "The pants make sense because, on the one hand, muscles beyond the groin (gluteal muscles, hip flexors,..) are used when cycling. On the other hand, because the lactate-transporting system only has larger inflows in the abdomen, where the transport is better functions."
Here you can find out more about the advantages of the pants:
Do cyclists train exclusively on their bikes, or do they also train in other sports?
Nicolas: "In the summer, most of them only ride their bikes. Of course, there are also core training sessions with stabilization and mobilization training, but real endurance training for most people only takes place on the bike.
In the winter, many do strength training and some also go for a run between bike sessions. But mostly they sit on the bike."
What do cyclists do in winter? Is winter the purest regeneration phase for you?
Nicolas: "The regeneration phase is usually after the last races. There the bike is actually put in a corner for a few weeks. Training usually starts again in November and increases in scope until the first races in spring and intensity increased. Endurance training on cross-country skis is very popular with us. However, multi-week training camps in the south have become indispensable in modern cycling."
Do you have any other tips that you can give cyclists for a successful regeneration besides the reboots?
Nicolas: "In addition to all passive aids for regeneration, the most important thing is still active regeneration. Nothing beats the cool down. Sufficient sleep and the right diet also play a very important role."
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Nicholas Berton
Nicolas Berton, Head Physio of Team Vorarlberg: “Relaxation is the be-all and end-all for every professional athlete! The ability to use the Reboots Recovery System in combination with a classic massage gives us that extra boost in performance. With its different programs and recovery intensities, Reboots gives us the opportunity to find the right mode for each individual driver.”
