The Long Roads of March-Ganna, Van der Poel, Spring Racing, and a Little Suffering on Zwift

March 13, 2026

The Long Roads of March

Ganna, Van der Poel, Spring Racing, and a Little Suffering on Zwift

March is when cycling wakes up properly.

The mornings are still cold enough that your fingers protest the first descent, but the peloton is already racing like it’s July. Across Europe the early stage races are quietly shaping the season, and if you’re paying attention there are little moments that remind you why this sport is so addictive.

This week had one of those moments.

Ganna vs Van der Poel – Power Meets Chaos

During the sprint finish in Tirreno-Adriatico we got a rare matchup:
Filippo Ganna vs Mathieu van der Poel

Two completely different engines.

Ganna is pure physics.
A rider who looks like he should be pushing a rowing shell rather than a bike, capable of producing enormous, sustained power.

Van der Poel is something else entirely — explosive, instinctive, the kind of rider who seems to race on feeling rather than numbers.

For a few seconds they were side by side, two different interpretations of speed.

In the end the sprint didn’t decide the race, but it reminded everyone of something important:

Spring racing is unpredictable.

And that’s why we love it.

Watch the highilights from this year gravel stage here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD4nfe542gM&pp=ygUWdGlycmVubyBhZHJpYXRpY28gMjAyNg%3D%3D

The Long Roads of Paris-Nice and Tirreno

Paris–Nice and Tirreno–Adriatico always feel like the real start of the European season.

Not quite the brutality of the cobbled monuments yet, but the tension is building.

The riders are finding form.
The weather is unpredictable.
Attacks start appearing where they shouldn’t.

For those of us watching from rainy Northern Europe, these races carry a particular charm.

They remind you that the season is turning.

Soon enough the roads will tilt upward in the Ardennes and rattle under cobbles in Flanders.

The Quiet Connection Between Racing and Longevity

There’s something interesting about watching professional cycling when you’re thinking about longevity.

Most people assume endurance sport destroys the body.

But the science tells a more interesting story.

A high VO₂ max remains one of the strongest predictors of long-term health and lifespan.

And while none of us need to train like Ganna or Van der Poel, the principle holds:

Move often.
Ride hard occasionally.
Stay curious about your limits.

That’s the philosophy behind Tweede Adem.

Not just performance — but endurance across decades.

Read the research here

https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/23/8/10.2741/4657

Zwift This Week – Choose Your Suffering

For those riding indoors this week, Zwift is offering a mix of pain and fun depending on your mood.

Epic Race Park Perimeter – Long Suffering Done Right

If you’re looking for a proper endurance session, the Epic KOM perimeter route is the one.

Long steady climbing.
Perfect for threshold work.
The kind of effort where your legs settle into that quiet burning rhythm that endurance athletes know so well.

It’s not flashy, but it builds something important: durability.

Tiny Crit Races – Short, Violent, Fun

On the opposite end of the spectrum are the tiny crit races popping up all week.

These are chaos in the best possible way.

Explosive attacks.
Corner accelerations.
Five-minute lung explosions.

They’re short enough to squeeze into a busy day but hard enough to remind you you’re alive.

Zwift Games – Peaky Pave Continues

The Zwift Games are still rolling, and the Peaky Pave events are a perfect nod to the real-world classics season.

Punchy climbs.
Surges out of the saddle.
Just enough brutality to make it feel like a tiny taste of Flanders.

If you’re dreaming about the cobbles, this is a good place to start.

From the Mud We Rise

Spring cycling has a certain energy to it.

The roads are wet.
Form is uncertain.
The races are unpredictable.

But that’s exactly where the magic lives.

Whether you’re watching Paris-Nice, racing Zwift, or just heading out for a cold evening ride — this time of year is about rediscovering that second wind.

Your Tweede Adem.

Ride long.
Ride curious.
And don’t be afraid of a little suffering.

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