Mountain biking keeps drivers fit

Pedro de la Rosa is one of many Formula 1 drivers who incorporate mountain biking into their fitness programme, it's a great way to build cardiovascular strength - vital for the endurance athlete that is the modern Formula 1 driver. Aside from that, it offers a chance to get away from the stuffy gymnasium and head out in to the open air - and even have some fun as well.

Pedro de la Rosa took us for a trip on one of his regular moutain biking routes, just a few kilometres north of his home in Barcelona, Spain. It promises to be a tough and long day in the saddle, so after making sure that we are well fuelled for the trek, we meet with Pedro at his home and set off for the hills.
It is a hot and hazy day, and as we make our way up the dirt road that leads to the summits, the bustling city of Barcelona shrinks back ever-further into the distance.

Pedro de la Rosa "In the past, I've incorporated a number of different disciplines into my fitness regime. I've done jogging, rowing and cross-country skiing, but I wanted to have a little bit more diversity. When you get into a routine the body becomes used to it, so it helps to introduce new elements from time to time. I suggested to my trainer that we incorporate some cycling and he agreed. I bought my bike this year and it's proving great to have such challenging terrain virtually on my doorstep."

The peaks that we will climb and descend today are high, some 1,500 metres or so, stretching lethargically into the haze that greets us when we arrive at the base. The view of the city beneath us is stunning, a vista of grid-like streets and tall buildings, with a green sea shimmering in the distance. After saddling-up, we are off along the dusty surface, tyres bobbling over the stones and cracks. The first ascent is stealthily configured, hiding steady increases in incline from the rider. Pedro is warmed up, relaxed; this is an area, and a ride, he knows well.
"There are a lot of local people who come up and use these hills for recreation. The terrain is great for cycling, jogging or just walking the dog, and it's a great way to get some good exercise in the open air."

As we continue up the hill, the incline is gentle and, once the appropriate gear is selected, pedalling and progress are easy. The road itself is circuitous, with blind bend following blind brow. At this early point, we are keen to press on, to build up speed, but Pedro, who has been here many times before, remember, reminds us to conserve energy if possible, because there is plenty of riding and climbing yet to come.
Eventually, fatigue begins to set in, and each revolution requires a disproportionately large effort on the part of the legs and lungs. Pedro is smiling: only he knows how much higher we have to go before we can begin the downhill section. Even then, however, it is unlikely that progress will become much easier.

Pedro warns that the downhill section we are approaching is "very tricky". Surely it cannot be too often that you hear a Formula 1 driver describing cycling thus?
"We are going to take this path to the top, then come down and up the other side. This should give you an idea of the difficulty of the terrain."
Just how difficult will the downhill be, Pedro? "Very difficult." Pedro dives headfirst down the path. We have no choice but to follow: the bike is constantly on the move underneath the rider, tyres scrabbling for grip among the moss and mud. "You must keep your bodyweight over the rear of the cycle," counsels Pedro, "because the last thing you want to do is go over the handlebars."

Pedro is, of course, very fit - it is an essential part of his role as Test Driver for Team McLaren Mercedes. "If the team calls me and says that I need to test the car, I have to be ready. It would not be very good if I were to get in the car and be tired after 50 laps. Therefore, I must be fit."

We finally reach the top of the hill and pause for a sip of water before winding back down the mountain. The track here is wider and smoother, making it possible to gain some real speed on the descent. We travel at great speed, with Pedro always on the racing line for each corner. After the gruelling climb, to travel at such speed is at once both a relief and a wake-up call, but we all make it down unharmed.

Before long, we are back where we started and we dismount, wipe our brows and reflect on a good day's cycling. There are a couple of bruises that have been picked up along the way, but there is no pain, such is the exhilaration the mountains provide.