Wide Open: Congrats on your recent result at World Marathon Champs - Any learnings you will use from that race for the Whaka100 in October?

Caleb: Yeah, certainly! Mainly confidence in my preparation over the past winter and that I’m capable of even more than what I thought.

What's your calendar for the upcoming summer season, and which events are taking priority?

I’m looking forward to racing the XCO National Series rounds, National Champs and Oceania Champs this summer. Nationals and Oceanias are the priorities and it’s great to have the National Series for preparation.

With your recent focus on endurance/marathon races, what does your typical training week look like?

Early winter was high volume, long rides and plenty of tempo and threshold to build endurance. Autumn was beautiful, so I really enjoyed that phase. I’m racing the final two XCO World Cups of the year and marathon racing is still very intense, so the last couple of months have been focussed on sharpening up for the races. We strip the volume down a bit, add the rest day back and increase from to two to three days of intensity per week.
A few race simulations are a good way to test your nutrition strategy and gear setup.

What does your last month of training look like for the Whaka100?

The last month before Shimano Whaka100 has some big goals for me in the North American races, so the form is already there. Training around the races is aimed at recovering from each of these efforts, and just maintaining the endurance and intensity. It takes discipline to stay well rested!

 Image Credit: North Road Pictures

Tyres are a big consideration for many Whaka riders - what will you be looking to run if it's dry or if it's wet?

Totally! Goodyear Peak SL 29x2.4” are my choice for the vast majority of conditions. Fast rolling and consistent grip right across the tread profile make these the perfect race tyre. Low pressure is key for XC race tyres. If it gets wet, I may opt for a Peak up front for a little more bite.

What is your helmet/eyewear choice?

The Sweet Protection Fluxer helmet is comfortable, light and ventilated. I pair this with the Memento RIG Photochromic for clear vision through the changing light in the forest.

Do you carry a spare tube or emergency spares on course?

Yeah, the Stan's Dart, a CO2 and small multi-tool. Lightweight but covered for the basics.

What's your fueling strategy? Can you share how many carbs/per hour you are planning on annihilating?

Heaps! I always aim for 100g/hr. You need to have trained your body to be able to utilise the carbs though, so you can’t just pull this out on race day! Also worthwhile to include some contingencies in your plan and consider the amounts per bottle and gel that you don’t actually consume.

Is carbo loading real? If so what’s your fuelling plan the day before?

Carb loading is definitely real, but maybe not in the way that you think. It’s not a blowout, eat til you feel sick approach, rather just eating more simple foods for the couple days beforehand so that more of your calories are carbs. Less fat, lean proteins and very little fibre works best for me.

Do you have a pacing plan, look at key metrics like heart rate or power, or ride by feel?

Yes and no! It’s definitely helpful to keep a watch on power to pace the sustained efforts within the race, but at the end of the day, it’s speed and heart that wins races.

Any last hot tips on how to best race this course or trails to watch out for?

I’m pretty excited about the inclusion of Tuhoto Ariki - it’s single track like this that makes Rotorua a World-renowned MTB destination. It will be an honest test of how fast and smooth you can ride after one of the race’s hardest climbing tests, so make sure that you’ve put your time in on the MTB!

It was great to catch up with what you're up to Caleb, and thanks so much for sharing some tips on your preparation for Whaka!