CYCLING PERFORMANCE · JAKUB PIENIAZEK
How to Train Around Business Travel
Plan for what is realistic
The most common mistake I see during business travel is planning more training than the trip realistically allows. Riders arrive with ambitious schedules, then feel disappointed when meetings, flights and fatigue prevent them from completing the work.
My approach is to agree on a manageable plan before departure. We consider the journey, work commitments, available equipment and opportunities to sleep. The training should fit the trip.
When travel crosses time zones, managing jet lag becomes a priority. I adjust expectations around the rider’s sleep, fatigue and readiness rather than assuming they can train normally as soon as they arrive.
A shorter session—or a rest day—can be the right decision. Direct communication helps us adapt as the trip unfolds, without treating every change as a failure.
The goal is to maintain continuity and return ready to train. Completing a realistic plan is more useful than repeatedly falling short of an ambitious one.
Research & further reading
Athlete travel fatigue and jet lag: consensus statement ↗
Athlete sleep: expert consensus ↗