Meet GPM10, a favourite PerformancePro partner. As part of our Cycling with the Best season, we’re delighted to profile one of our favourite companies and a key partner.
On the road with GPM10
GPM10 provide road cycling training camps and bespoke cycling trips for both corporate and private individuals. Their trips are performance-based, as clients seek to improve both their fitness and bike handling. Some of the UK’s leading legal and accountancy firms including PWC and Slaughter and May are amongst GPM10’s regular corporate clients.
A passion for cycling
Mark still has the same passion now as when he started the company in 2003. When asked what he loves most about what he does for a living, Mark is quick to respond,
“I enjoy the travel, meeting new people and managing all the logistics involved in delivering a top GPM10 event. And being out on my bike, of course!”
And what are the highlights of Mark’s own cycling career, so far?
“When I first set up the company and was based in France and raced my bike in between trips which was great fun – I was often the only foreign rider there so would always get a special mention even though I would be doing well to finish with the Peloton. I also once spent 3 days riding in the alps with David Moncoutié who at the time was a pro with Cofidis – he was training for the Vuelta Espana and aiming to win the mountains classifications for the 4th year in a row which he duly did. David is now retired but I’m still riding competitively at 51 and this continues to be a major highlight for me!
We think at this point, it’s worth asking Mark about his relationship with PerformancePro. After all, we know that we play a major role in helping Mark compete and keeping him pain free.
GPM10 and PerformancePro
Mark first met PerformancePro director, Anthony Purcell, on a GPM10 Tour du Mont Blanc trip back in 2010. Anthony was a GPM10 client then and still is to this day. He has been out on their trips every year since.
When Mark first met Anthony, he wasn’t really convinced that lifting weights was beneficial to climbing mountains on a bike. He did notice, however, that Anthony climbed well ‘for a furry alien weighing 89KG!’
In 2014, Mark crashed and broke his collarbone and, due to complications, had a long period off his bike. He started back in February 2015 but was struggling to find any kind of form. He was also suffering from hip and knee pain, neither of which he’d experienced prior to the crash.
At the annual GPM10 training camp in Mallorca, Mark asked for Anthony’s advice. Anthony suggested that, given Mark’s age (49 at the time) and the extended period of time off the bike, a structured strength and conditioning programme would help rebuild the strength he’d lost and help overcome the pain he was experiencing on the bike.
Later that summer, Mark visited PerformancePro. This time he was the client and Anthony was there to support and do what PerformancePro does best. Following an initial assessment and movement screening, Anthony devised a tailored training programme for Mark.
The two men worked together 2-3 times a week as Anthony helped Mark with a combination of specific body weight exercises, resistance bands, free weights, dead lifts, squats and stretches. We asked Mark to describe the impact of his PerformancePro training,
‘I have not looked back since! I’m 51 and I feel as strong as I can remember. AND, I’m riding pain-free, which is obviously important for my job! All of this is down to the strength and conditioning training I’ve done with Anthony at PerformancePro’.
A good fit – the best of both worlds
As the relationship between Mark and Anthony developed, it made sense to involve PerformancePro with GPM10. Mark recognised that his clients would also benefit from PerformancePro’s intelligent approach to fitness,
‘Anthony and the PerformancePro team are very client-focused. They have the expertise to educate GPM10 clients on the process and benefits of strength and conditioning. This leads to measurable gains on the bike. I do not think you can overstate enough the benefits of 1 to 1 training if you are serious about improvement.’
GPM10 and PerformancePro client offer
So the good news is we’ve teamed up with GPM10 again to offer PerformancePro clients a great deal for 2018. What’s more, you too can get the best of both worlds as Anthony from PerformancePro runs a series of strength and conditioning sessions on the following GPM10 tours.
GPM10 Road Cycling Training Camps 2018
Take your cycling up a gear with one or two of GPM10’s unrivalled and professionally supported road cycle training camps. Whether you’re training for a L’Etape du Tour or simply driven to improve your performance, read on…
With two superb GPM10 cycle training camps in Girona (March 14-18) and the Serra de Tramuntan Mountains of Mallorca (April 12-15), now’s the time to take advantage of a unique PerformancePro partner deal.
Each ride at the camp is professionally led by experienced guides with the dedicated ‘service course’ provided by the GPM10 team car. The four days are structured to ensure rides become gradually more demanding, whilst also allowing for appropriate rest and recovery. Darren Barclay will also be part of the GPM10 team.
Darren has over 25 years of elite cycling experience including a podium finish in the British Pro/AM Road Race Championships in the late 90s, multiple national medals and latterly racing as a Master in Germany.
Darren specialises in optimal body composition for performance and health. GPM10 is delighted that he will be providing clients with body composition, hydration assessments and sound nutritional advice drawing on his wealth of cycling experience as an elite rider and 20 years of clinical expertise as a dietician.
Find out more about GPM10 and these two Training Camps >>
Book for either of these two GPM10 Training Camps and enjoy a 10% discount as a client or friend of PerformancePro. Simply quote PerformancePro when you complete the GPM10 online booking form