The competition was intense, the result arrived, but how best to face the following days?
An element that must be considered is that the competition, in addition to being the culmination of a project, is also the best of training; so organizing the following days well, preparing our body for recovery, ensures that the supercompensation mechanisms are activated in the best possible way. By making our body improve.
How to do?
As I always say, there is a basic rule that must then be adapted to individual needs. Each athlete responds differently to stimuli, consequently the post-race must also take these factors into consideration. The degree of training also plays a fundamental role, a rider with some deficiency will have had to draw more energy to complete the race and will have slower recovery mechanisms. For some years it has also been possible to have a lot of information from the study of our DNA, a very useful factor, especially at a high level.
How to orient yourself
The path that leads us to the race is both physical and mental, all optimized to arrive in the best of conditions on the day of the event; this can lead to a subsequent down, so the first desire may be to unplug and stop. Especially among amateurs this desire could be indulged in trying to recharge the batteries, thus avoiding the risk of going into short circuit.
From a physiological point of view, however, the day after a race it would be advisable to plan a leg; very useful to reduce the incidence of Doms, to accelerate the disposal of catabolites and reactivate circulation in the best possible way. It must be a low-intensity ride, with the goal of regeneration and fun. With a similar pattern, Tuesday becomes the day to devote to rest in order to resume training in the best possible way in the following days.
Recovery techniques

In addition to rest and kicking, there are other recovery methods that may be useful. The best known is that of stretching. This training method is important to restore mobility and functionality to the muscles; it is advisable to use it in the days following the competition rather than just after the competition. This is because, in the hours following the race, it is important to allow the blood to circulate as quickly as possible, putting in place exercises that stimulate circulation, while the stretching is passive, leads to vasoconstriction and therefore goes in the opposite direction.
Massages, hydromassage and similar techniques are important to stimulate blood flow and thus proceed to a faster disposal of catabolites.
But integration?

In addition to physical techniques and rest, it is also advisable to provide for correct integration; this means eating correctly, possibly it is possible to use some supplements to give the body the necessary building blocks to recompose the system. Especially in the hours following the race, our stomach needs some time to recover correct functionality; it is likely that it is best to use water-soluble supplements. Carbohydrates and later a complex of proteins and amino acids, are undoubtedly useful supplements to speed up the recovery processes. Dinner and the next day's meal must continue this process, with light and easily assimilated foods, all so as not to involve the body too much in the digestive process.
Conclusions
In the design of a racing season, every element is fundamental for personal success; thinking that you can neglect the moments after the race is a mistake, both because a quick recovery allows us to return immediately to training, and because with an optimal recovery it is possible to take advantage of the benefits that the race has given us for the continuation of the season.
