Gym work is also becoming more common in training for the professionals – with British Cycling physio Phil Burt one to have pointed out that trend.

And Ellingworth is no different, noting: “I think we are getting, steadily, a bit more into the off-the-bike work such as the gym.

“I’ve got three or four riders who I coach who do a gym programme. They like to do it because it’s a change of environment, they are exercising well and can work on a bit of stability but also, what we are looking at now is continuing that through the racing season.

“Obviously you turn up the intensity and turn it down again at times, and that is something people can get wrong. You need to look at what you want to get out of it.

“As an example, Ian Stannard broke his back so for him the gym will be a very, very key part of his training now. Ben Swift, with his shoulders, he needed to do a lot of weight training for the resistance.

“If he does not do that, his shoulder will be a problem in the long-term. He needs to keep chipping away at the gym. For others, the gym is just about building up general fitness. It is an individual process.

“I think it does have its place now for cyclists. If a club can get together and do some circuit training or go to the gym and get on the weights then it can be a great alternative and sociable event once or twice a week.

“Generally, at this time of year, our guys are in the gym three times a week.”