“A special atmosphere that makes you want to return!”

Let's give a voice to those who know us best : the riders! The Sa Calobra Cycling Club is a team, your team! Today, an interview with Jean-Philippe, who talks about his experience at the Sa Calobra Cycling Club.

When did you start cycling?
Jean-Philippe Bernard : I got into cycling 22 years ago after a serious road accident prevented me from continuing my combat sports. I quickly developed a passion for it and progressed rapidly, starting with mountain biking and then moving to road cycling. After teaching mountain biking in a club, it officially became my second job at the end of 2018. I coach spinning classes every evening and on weekends! It’s a true passion!

Where did you find the Sa Calobra Cycling Club?
JP.B I discovered SCCC a bit by chance while searching online for a road cycling camp to improve my personal skills and then teach and share them. I came across a lot of options! There’s a wide range of cycling camps out there, but very few offer an experience like SCCC.

You have been here three times already. What makes you come back?
JP.B Ah... yes, there’s a special atmosphere that makes you want to return! The list is so long, I’ll try to keep it short: The quality of the services, workshops, and real-time advice during rides. The team is always attentive and takes great care of us, from preparing homemade meals to daily massages—it’s really top-notch!

Do you prepare specially for the camp?
JP.B I’m not going to reveal all my secrets ;-) ... Not really, actually. I think I’m prepared all year round with my cycling-related activities. I ride at least an hour every day. When the weather in Belgium allows, I enjoy long rides on Sundays. I think I prepared a bit more for the Alps because I wanted to make the most of the many mountain passes, and I did well—it was exceptional!

If I had to give some advice: Adapt your training 2 or 3 months before the camp starts without putting too much pressure on yourself. Do short 1-hour rides, varying each session with intervals, recovery, and endurance. Add 1 hour of strength training per week and some stretching (we never do enough!). Don’t forget about nutrition—you can’t run a high-performance engine on bad fuel ;-)

How do you feel about this camp?
JP.B The Mallorca Camp is going to be a new experience for me because this time I’m bringing two students from my spinning classes with me! All the pressure is on my shoulders (hahaha)—you know about Belgian pressure? They say it’s the best. Anyway, I’m approaching this camp with enthusiasm and curiosity to meet other international participants who also make this camp a moment of sharing and discovery.

What will be your next cycling challenge after this camp?
JP.B After the camp, by the end of October, the cycling challenges of the year will be behind me, and they’ve all been very rich in emotion and intensity. I think I’ve had one of my best years since I stopped competing in mountain biking. The Morzine Camp was the most memorable!