A training camp gives amateur cyclists the chance to live like a pro, where riding your bike dominates the agenda and the focus is on laying the foundations for the year ahead with long miles, riding with like-minded people.

The main advantage of an overseas training camp is the ability to concentrate fully on pedalling – cycling becomes the nine-to-five – and maximising your time on the road. Training camps aren’t just for racers, either, and if you have a busy summer of sportives on the agenda then a week away in the sun will be of equal benefit.

Training camps come in all different shapes and sizes. How serious do you want to take your training?

Some training camps will be dominated by talk of power meters, watts and heart rate zones, while other will be structured as riding weeks, where the mileage is still high but the atmosphere more relaxed.

Sold on the idea of a training camp? Now you just need to choose where to go…