4ucycling

SPENDING COUNTLESS HOURS in the saddle is no longer enough for pro cyclists to win stages or, better yet, get invited to represent their team at prestigious events, like the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France. Fact is, what these elite athletes do indoors is just as important as what they do outdoors. And the same holds true for you. To get in the best biking shape for spring, do these five exercises from the top riders on the new men's team, Cannondale Pro Cycling. Core Cyclist says: “Sprinters generally have more muscles—just put sprinter Andre Greipel next to Grand Tour winner Alberto Contador and you'll immediately see the difference,” says Peter Sagan, nicknamed the “Tourminator” for his killer performance at the Tour de France last year. The all-around rider, who also excels at sprinting (making him a perfect mix of Contador and Greipel), took home the green jersey at the 2012 Tour and will return this summer to defend his title. Sagan's crunches: Forget modern-d...

Most of us have experienced neck tension or pain at one time or another. These are often caused by poor posture or degenerative changes to the cervical spine. The result is stiff muscles in your neck and shoulders, pain and limited mobility. Neck tension and pain can occur for several reasons. Causes of neck tension Poor posture: constant strain on your head and neck due to incorrect positions, movements and permanent stress at work, in your daily life or when exercising Mental stress: psychological strain Weak immune system: for example, due to a cold Accidents and injuries: for example, whiplash or a pulled muscle In my opinion, and that of many experts, the main reason for neck tension and pain is often a lack of mobility of the thoracic spine. The thoracic spine is designed to move in the form of rotations (turning), flexions (bending) and extensions (straightening). However, the opposite is often the case in daily life. We have turned into marathon sitters and couch potato...