Keep the aerobic foundation steady as team sessions begin.
July 2026
Build fitness as team practices begin.
July starts with simple independent training, then flips into team-practice mode after July 7. Practices become the main weekday stimulus, and optional races only make sense when they replace work rather than pile on.
At a Glance
Shape of the month.
July still sits in base plus build, but it changes character quickly: the first week stays simple, and then organized team practice becomes the backbone of the month.
Use practices and selective races to raise specificity without overloading the week.
That is the handoff point where weekday structure changes.
If no XC race is selected, keep the weekend primarily aerobic.
Day by Day
Training Calendar
Before July 7 the week is still mostly self-managed. After that, team practice leads and optional races sit underneath as substitutes.
Levels
- Beginner: prioritize attending practices, keep extra rides modest, and default to endurance over extra racing.
- Intermediate: follow the team rhythm and use races selectively around practice load.
- Advanced: absorb a bit more total volume if recovery supports it, but avoid stacking practices and races recklessly.
If Plans Change
- Missed XC simulation race: replace it with intervals only if practice that week did not already cover the same quality.
- Midweek race selected: let it replace the weekday hard session and reduce practice load elsewhere when needed.
- No weekend event selected: keep the weekend endurance-based.
- Heavy practice week: shorten the endurance ride before you add more intensity.