Elite athlete training

I found this today, it's pretty cool to see what the training looks like for an elite athlete.
This is the training routine for Lance Armstrong and his riding comback before his next tour race 

Lance's Pre-Tour Down Under Training Plan

 

To fine-tune his preparation for the Tour Down Under, Lance traveled to Hawaii for some long miles and motorpacing. I'll be out there for the motorpacing, and it will be good to get some high-speed, race-pace hours in his legs before he starts the first stage race of his comeback. Here's the training plan I worked up before he left. It has changed slightly, as training programs always do, but the most important thing for Lance is the progression of block training. You can read more about block training in previous posts, but for now, check out what Lance is doing.

December 29-31---3-day training block
3-4 hours daily @ endurance pace staying below 315watts, climbs at 340-380watts
 
January 1: Recovery ride
 
Jan 2-4----3 day training block
Day 1: 4 hours @ endurance pace staying below 315watts, include 1hr @ Tempo power, 350-380watts, low pedal cadence during Tempo (60-70rpm).
 
Day 2: 4 hours @ endurance pace staying below 315watts, include 2-3 10-minute MuscleTension Intervals @ 45-50rpm, uphill @ 350-400watts with 8-10mins recovery between intervals.
 
Day 3: 4 hours @ endurance pace staying below 315watts, include 1hr @ Tempo power, 350-380watts, low pedal cadence during Tempo (60-70rpm).
 
January 5-6: Recovery rides
 
Jan 6-8----3 day training block
Day 1: 5.5 hrs with 3 climbs of 15-30minutes at 380-420watts, last 60mins behind motor for leg speed.
 
Day 2: 4.5 hours with 2-3climbs late in the ride of 15-30minutes at 380-420watts, last 60mins behind motor for leg speed.
 
Day 3: 4 hours @ endurance pace with 2 climbs of 15-30minutes at 380-420watts, last 60mins behind motor for leg speed.
 
January 9-10—recovery rides, maybe on the TT bike
Day 1: Recovery ride
Day 2: Recovery ride
 
January 11: Possibly an Ironman test on the TT bike??
 
January 12: Depart for Australia?

Training for power on the bike seems to be the way to go.   I'm doing HR right now but I'll be getting a power meter within the next few weeks.   The expensive ones go upwards of a grand or more but a new company iBike has come out with one for $200 - $300 or so and they are even cheaper on eBay.   My coach seems to think that's the way to go.   Lance uses one so it must be good. :)

When I saw the title of this thread, I just assumed that it was about my training.