Benefits of mountain skiing for cyclists

Winter is an important time for the most competitive cyclists, and a good base training will largely determine the success of the upcoming season. Whether you take your cycling training seriously or you are a fan who enjoys the sport, we show you the immense benefits of practicing cross-country skiing, ski touring, or skimo.

Benefits of skimo for cyclists

Cross-training is one of the keys to success for any athlete, and to be truly effective, it is necessary to choose well which will be your complementary sport. In this aspect, cycling and cross-country skiing or ski touring are a perfect match. An example of how perfect they are as complements is the Spanish Claudia Galicia, winner of the Catalunya Bike Race and World Mountain Skiing Champion, among many other titles.

But let's see what the benefits of cross-country or mountain skiing are.

Perfect aerobic sport

Cross-country skiing or ski touring are modalities that allow for continuous and controlled aerobic levels, as you can set a heart rate limit and maintain it for as long as you want. This is perfect for long, quiet training sessions that will set the foundation for any cyclist.

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By moving arms and legs, it is also easy to increase heart rate when we propose it.

Strengthens the upper body and maintains muscle tone in the legs

In both ski touring and mountain skiing, it may seem that the legs are the main driver, but the truth is that a great effort of arms and trunk is required to progress. So, this sport allows us to strengthen the upper part of our body while continuing to tone the legs, something that cyclists often overlook during the season.

Low impact on joints

Like cycling, cross-country skiing has no impact on the joints, so its injury level is practically nil with good technique, just like in cycling.

Training at altitude

To practice skiing, there must be snow, and in a country like Spain, this is almost synonymous with practicing it at altitude, with all the benefits it entails.

Keeps motivation high

Even for the most enthusiastic cyclists, it is good to set aside the bike for some time. Changing sports helps to keep motivation for cycling high and start the season with more enthusiasm.

What do you think of cross-country skiing as a complementary sport? Have you tried it? Tell us on our social networks.