August 01, 2014 – For several years Lukas Bauer has been the leading Czech cross-country skier. After a successful Olympic season he considered quitting his professional racing career. But at 36 years of age, Bauer has now started another Olympic cycle and is training at full speed. Last year, and again this year, he spent some training days with some of his biggest competitors…

Lukas Bauer © Nordic Focus

Lukas, you were training in Oberwiesenthal (GER) recently. Tell us about the training group.
Lukas Bauer: I was there with a group of seven skiers led by Alexander Legkov. I had planned before to meet some of the strongest skiers this summer. I trained with the Russians last year as well and it worked fine.

Alexander Legkov is one of your biggest competitors in the winter. Were not the Russians afraid to allow you train with them?
L.B.: Everything depends on those who build the training program. Coaches must be agreed with that. And of course athletes must support it too, particularly leaders of the team such as Alexander Legkov. Neither of them had a problem with me joining the team for their training.

How was the atmosphere on the team like?
L.B.: It was totally cool. They work and train in a friendly atmosphere. I also tried to speak with them in Russian so it was sometimes funny. I think they were surprised see me in a gym. They must have said to themselves, how is it possible that somebody like that can ski fast? (laughs)

Was it difficult to keep up with them in the gym?
L.B.: Strength training was really tough, but it worked well. Russians are at a totally different level compared to the Germans or the Norwegians when it comes to strength. We have other strong points that make us good.

You trained with Legkov and his team last year as well – what’s it like training with them?
L.B.: I was surprised how many weights they can lift and still be very good in running. Particularly Legkov is a very strong trail runner. He dispells the concept that strong, muscular athletes are poor in running. That is inspiring. I trained not only how to lift weights but I was interested in how balanced and tuned their training is. It is not a big problem to train with them a day or two. The key point is how you can manage a longer period to reach a positive effect.

What are the biggest differences in Russian training?
L.B.: Their training is not about records, maximum training hours. They focus a lot on intensity levels. I think their system is closer to Norway than to Russia. It’s not that type of Russian training when everything must hurt. It was of course very tough but in a different way. They did not rest much either, they practically worked all the time. Such an intensity is not very common in the Czech cross-country ski school.

You train independently from the rest of the Czech national team. How often are you going to train with your teammates?
L.B.: I have a family and want to spend more time at home. I also think that I don’t have to be under daily supervision to train well. I asked for the possibility not to be obligated to attend the Czech national team camps. I would like to build a training regimen that fits both my family life and my idea about the preparation.

Before the winter I am going to join the national team at approx. two training camps. But during the season I am not going to have a special program. The only thing I would like to get the permission for is to skip the FIS Tour de Ski. My top priority is the World Championships in Falun and especially the 50km Classic. Also, I would like to take part in more than two long distance competitions.

What are your plans after the training in Oberwiesenthal?
L.B.: I’m going to spend a few days with my family in the Bohemian Switzerland. Then I will be training for a week at home. From the 10th August I will train with the Czech team  in the ski tunnel in Oberhof. Then I am joining the German team in Goms (SUI) at their toughest summer training camp. There will be a lot of roller skiing from valleys up high on the top of the peaks.

Contributed by www.czech-ski.com