1/4 Hour LabO #86: "Should technical training be separated from physical training?" - G. Faury

Introduction: When Technique Meets Physical Training in MTB

Gaël Faury, who previously spoke on iso-inertial training, returns to share his unique approach that blends technique, physical training, and neuroscience in mountain biking.

A former athlete who excelled more in technical skills than pure physicality, Gaël has developed a method to help his athletes progress by leveraging the functioning of the central nervous system.

For him, mastering a turn, braking, or a jump on a bike is simply a series of correctly coordinated and sequenced muscle contractions. This understanding has led him to explore the link between technical abilities and neurological prerequisites, challenging the traditional separation between technical and physical training.

The Pyramid Approach of the Nervous System and Biking

Gaël has noticed striking parallels between learning to ride a bike, which he teaches to young athletes, and the functioning of the nervous system. Learning to bike follows a pyramid: first safety (braking, balance, pedaling), then more complex skills (jumping, cornering), before competing against the clock.

Similarly, the nervous system has fundamental prerequisites that allow access to higher levels of skill.

By overlaying these two pyramids, Gaël has developed innovative training techniques. By analyzing specific MTB movements, he identifies the nervous system prerequisites needed. For example, to maintain balance on a bike, he works on the nervous system’s balance tools, adapting exercises for each young athlete.

The Link Between Neuro Tests and Technical Performance

Individualization of Training and Diagnosis

Thanks to this approach, Gaël has implemented technical and physical screenings, allowing him to understand why an athlete feels more comfortable turning left than right.

He has noticed that the strengths or difficulties observed on the bike often correspond to similar patterns found in the analysis of the cortical and sensory pathways of the nervous system.

His observation is as follows: a biking exercise that engages multiple prerequisites simultaneously can be too complex. By isolating the problematic system or nerve pathway and proposing a specific task that requires reorganization, the athlete progresses.

Far from wanting to "command" a movement, the idea is to provide a task that "forces" the body to reorganize to achieve the desired result.

The Integration of Controlled Disruption

This method allows the integration of very analytical exercises targeting specific pathways directly into MTB practice. The goal is to add controlled "noise" to the system, that is, an additional constraint or stimulation at the right level to provoke adaptation without distorting the practice.

This aligns with the concept of transfer, where gains achieved by working on a specific function reflect positively on overall performance.

Beyond Technique: The Role of Sensory Systems and Breathing

The Cerebellum: Conductor of Fine Motor Skills and Stability

Gaël emphasizes the importance of the cerebellum. Braking in MTB, for example, requires not only core stability and strength-endurance to resist forces but also the fine motor skills of the index finger.

The cerebellum, responsible for this fine motor skill, is also involved in stabilizing the body's center and the vestibular system.

Thus, fine motor skill or coordination issues, which may manifest as difficulties in writing, can be linked to cerebellar dysfunction.

By specifically targeting these areas with tailored exercises, performance in braking and overall stability can be improved.

Breathing and Postural Balance

Breathing plays a crucial role. Poor respiratory management can impact the nervous system, activating alert systems and hindering recovery.

Coordinating breathing with movement is essential for force transfer and body stability, especially on a bike where limbs are constrained.

Gaël critiques the exclusive approach of postural studies that adjust the bike to morphology without considering the body in motion. A closed ribcage or poor foundational breathing can lead to compensations and pain.

By working on breathing and the "midline" (the body's central line), new avenues can be opened to address problems that were previously difficult to tackle.

Conclusion: Towards Conscious and Individualized Performance

Gaël Faury's approach empowers athletes to take charge of their performance. They learn to identify what works for them and understand the connections between specific exercises and their sensations on the bike.

This dynamic fosters a more conscious and individualized performance, where the athlete knows how to optimize their functioning to overcome technical and physical challenges.

This method demonstrates that just as mastering the basics is essential in weight training before high intensity, in MTB, mastering low speed is a prerequisite for high speed.

The initial results on the field are promising and confirm the relevance of this integrated approach, which continues to evolve in response to individual adaptations.