Log in to Strava, dive into the clubs you’re signed up for, and take a look at the leaderboard from the past week. You’ll probably find someone who has done more than 700 kilometers, although the reality is that you can almost count them on one hand. 700 kilometers on a bike in a week! Now, just imagine for a moment that this distance leader in your Strava club didn’t do it in a week, but in a single day.
How can someone ride more than 700 kilometers on a bike in one day? Ziortza Villa did it. Specifically, it was 740 kilometers completed on a road bike during the Spanish 24-hour Championship held at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Cheste (Valencia) in 2017. She finished first and also set the Spanish record in the category. Ziortza is not only the best ultracyclist in our country, she has also won two European Championships (24h and 12h ITT) and has placed fourth in the last two 24-hour World Championships.
"I’ve been close to the podium twice and I’d like to be on it this year," she says about her expectations for the 2021 season. At this point, you’re probably wondering how a cyclist prepares to compete in an event like this. How is it possible to cover such a long distance in one go and in so little time? How can you maintain an average speed above 30 km/h for 24 hours straight?
The training: 20,000 kilometers per year
Behind the starting gun of an ultracycling race are thousands of kilometers of training in your legs. In Ziortza’s case, “I usually exceed 20,000 kilometers annually.” To achieve this, cold or rain can’t be an excuse. "I live in the Basque Country and winter is tough because it rains a lot, so I usually travel to places with dry weather where I can train more hours."
Despite focusing on road bikes, Ziortza also incorporates mountain bike sessions into her preparation, especially to work on strength, technique, and adaptation to the terrain. “Training on different surfaces and environments enriches both physical and mental preparation,” she says. Every place has something unique.
Planning a season can take between 5 and 6 months of specific work for a single carrera. “Afterwards, you also have to take care of recovery and factor it into the competitive calendar.”
The diet: more than 10,000 calories in 24 hours
Maintaining the effort for 24 hours at a pace of superior at 30 km/h not only requires training, but also an impeccable nutritional strategy. “In a carrera of 24 hours I consume more than 10,000 calories,” she explains. “It's not just about eating during the race, but making sure the body is efficient in using nutrients.”
Ziortza follows a strict diet throughout the year, balancing carbohydrates with fruits, vegetables, and proteins, especially fish. “I avoid ultra-processed foods and test everything I will consume in carrera during training sessions.” This includes isotonic drinks, mineral salts, and natural foods that are easy to digest.
The strategy: staying motivated
All the technical and physical preparation would not be possible without a strong mindset. “Mentally, it is a very demanding discipline. Although I have a great team, the loneliness of so many hours on the bike is tough.” Motivation is what makes the difference, season after season.
Like many other people passionate about cycling, Ziortza combines her sporting carrera with her work as a physiotherapist. Weekly organization requires balancing volume sessions on weekends and quality training during the week, something that thousands of cyclists, whether on mountain bikes or road bikes, will understand perfectly.
The pandemic in 2020 was a great challenge, with disrupted training and canceled competitions, including the World Championship. “The hardest part was staying motivated without knowing if there would be a carrera.”
Ziortza Villa's track record
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European 24h Champion (2019)
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European 12h Time Trial Champion (2020)
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4-time Spanish 24h Champion (2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019)
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Spanish 24h ITT Record: 740 kilometers (2017)
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4th place in the 24h World Time Trial Championships (2018 and 2019)
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Camino de Santiago Record
