Illness can be the scourge of the most rigorous and well-thought-out training plan, especially if it means time off the bike.

Colds and the flu are particularly common at this time of year and it can be difficult to stick to a training programme when you know you are not in full health.

But if treated correctly, you can be back in the saddle and flying back to full fitness before you know it and stay well on track for your target race or sportive.

Put simply, illness can be managed – and the risk of illness minimised – to ensure your training remains unimpeded.

So how do you manage a cold? When is it the right time to climb out of the saddle and take a break? And how do you plan your comeback? Stephen Gallagher of Dig Deep Coaching talks us through the dos and don’ts training when under the weather. Read on for his advice.