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Mia Griffin, a 26-year-old Irish cyclist, has rapidly ascended to the upper echelons of professional cycling, marked by her Olympic debut, participation in Worlds and Europeans, and her recent achievement as the first Irish woman to secure a podium finish in a World Tour road race. However, her journey has been far from seamless, as she recently revealed in an interview with stickybottle.
Griffin’s transition to the pro peloton has required a significant shift in her training regimen. Over the winter, she focused on increasing her training volume rather than solely emphasizing high-intensity workouts, a trend that has gained popularity in recent years. This approach was aimed at preparing her for the demands of a full season in the World Tour, where endurance and consistency are paramount.
Reflecting on her winter training, Griffin noted that consistency and avoiding illness were key to her progress. “The winter has been really good,” she said. “I’ve been really consistent with training and managed to stay away from getting sick, which is one of the main struggles.” She emphasized that staying healthy and building tolerance for longer training hours were more beneficial than pushing herself to extremes in training.
Griffin’s ability to handle increased training volume has improved over the years, allowing her to recover more effectively from longer sessions. She attributed this progress to her shift from track cycling, which is highly intense, to a road-focused training program. “Without the intensity of track training, I’ve been able to focus on getting road fit,” she explained. This adjustment has enabled her to build a solid foundation of endurance, which she believes will serve her well in the upcoming season.
One of the challenges Griffin faced was finding the right balance between road training and gym work. While strength training has been a crucial part of her preparation for track cycling, she found it difficult to incorporate gym sessions into her road training routine due to fatigue. “For the first period, I couldn’t do much gym because I was just adapting to the road,” she said. However, she gradually reintroduced gym work into her regimen, acknowledging its importance for overall performance.
Griffin’s journey to the top has been marked by continuous adaptation and learning. Despite her remarkable achievements, she remains grounded and focused on improving her craft. Her recent success in the UAE Tour, where she sprinted to a strong finish in stage 1, is a testament to her hard work and dedication. As she embarks on her first full season as a World Tour rider, Griffin is determined to make her mark in the professional peloton.
Her story is a reminder that success in cycling, as in any sport, is built on consistency, resilience, and a willingness to adapt. From her early days as a camogie player in Kilkenny to her current status as one of Ireland’s top cyclists, Griffin’s journey is an inspiring example of what can be achieved with determination and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As she continues to push her limits, Griffin is poised to make even greater strides in the world of professional cycling.
