Last reviewed 28 October 2026
What a taper does
Training builds fitness and fatigue at the same time. A taper cuts training for a short period so the fatigue clears faster than the fitness fades. Research on endurance athletes, including a widely cited 2007 meta-analysis by Bosquet and colleagues, found the best results came from reducing training volume substantially while keeping intensity and frequency, over about two weeks.
How long to taper
| Event | Taper | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 200 to 300 km brevet | About a week | Often just a lighter week before the ride. |
| 400 km brevet and longer | About two weeks | Plus a light event week. |
| 1200 km randonnée or multi-day race | About two weeks | Arrive rested; the event itself is a huge training load. |
These match the tapers in MeepMeep's event plans. If you are a brevet rider riding a full season, a short taper before each target event is enough; you do not need to taper for every ride.
What to cut and what to keep
- Cut volume by roughly 40 to 60% over the taper. The long ride shrinks the most.
- Keep some intensity. Short efforts at sweet spot or threshold keep the legs sharp. Fewer intervals, not easier ones.
- Keep riding regularly. Several short rides a week beat a week on the sofa.
- No new things. No new saddle, shoes, position or fueling products. Use the time to check and service the bike.
Event week
- A couple of short rides with a few brief efforts at race pace and slightly above, so you remember what the target feels like.
- Sleep is the priority, especially the two nights before the start. Bank it before a long event that runs through the night.
- Eat normally, with a little more carbohydrate in the last day or two.
- Prepare your route, controls, fueling and kit early, so the final day is calm. A race day card puts pacing and fueling on one strip.
Feeling flat is normal
Many riders feel sluggish or restless during a taper: heavy legs, odd aches, worry that fitness is slipping away. It is common and usually means the taper is working. Resist the urge to squeeze in one last long ride. Nothing you do in the final ten days will add meaningful fitness, but a hard ride can still leave you tired on the start line.
In MeepMeep, form (TSB) rising on the fitness chart over the taper shows fatigue clearing while fitness holds.
Questions
How long should I taper before a 600 km brevet?
About two weeks, cutting volume by around 40 to 60% while keeping a few short efforts, followed by a light event week.
Should I do a long ride the week before a brevet?
Usually not. A ride of two or three easy hours is plenty in event week. Your endurance comes from months of long rides, not the last one.
Will I lose fitness during a taper?
Very little over one to two weeks, provided you keep riding regularly and keep some intensity. The fatigue you shed matters more than the small amount of fitness you lose.