# 8 RYAP Hotel, Motel, Holiday Win
Reach Your APEX: We're Taking This to the Next Level 🚀
If you’ve been listening from the start—thank you. This little podcast experiment with Neal Henderson started as a way to bottle up decades of coaching wisdom and turn it into something useful for anyone chasing a better version of themselves. But we’re stepping it up now.
More guests. More real talk. More episodes that go beyond watts and whoop scores.
This week, we’ve got Leah Van der Linden—pro cyclist, coach, and absolute road-trip ninja. She joins Neal for a deep dive on how to travel like a pro and still race like one, too. From busted bikes to burrito mistakes, this episode is equal parts goldmine and group therapy for anyone who's ever tried to fly with a disc brake bike and a dream.
We’re making a point with this one: Reach Your APEX isn’t just about training plans and FTP. It’s about showing up, fully. Even if that means floor pumps, air tags, or dodging gas station roulette.
🎧 Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube—or wherever you tune in.
💡 And if you’ve got ideas or questions you want covered, hit us up. This is your ride too.
👉 Support the network: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mygirona
#ReachYourAPEX #Estranyoleft #CyclingLife #GravelTravel #PodcastFuel
Why Rest Days Make You Faster: The Science of Recovery with Andrea Devorak
We get it—rest days don’t feel great. They can leave you twitchy, tired, and wondering if you're losing fitness by the minute. But in 25+ years of coaching, I can tell you: the athletes who plan their rest—and respect it—go further, faster, and stay in the game longer.
In this episode, I sit down with coach and endurance athlete Andrea Deak to talk about how rest works, why it matters, and what happens when we finally give our bodies a chance to rebuild. From swimming 15+ hours a week for 2-minute races, to riding through Unbound XL, Andrea’s experience proves that sometimes doing less is the key to unlocking more.
We cover everything from tapering and burnout to unplanned life chaos—and how to shift your mindset around recovery so you can actually get better.
If you’re training hard and wondering why it’s not clicking, this one’s for you.
Gravel Race Start Strategy with Leah Van Der Linden
What makes a gravel race start smooth—or turn instantly chaotic? In this episode of Reach Your APEX, Neal Henderson is joined by APEX Coaching’s Leah Van Der Linden, a former D1 soccer player, ski cross national champ, Ironman finisher, and now pro gravel racer.
Together, they break down the start line dynamics that define success or disaster on course. From mass starts at Unbound to rolling timed segments at Paydirt, Leah shares what she’s learned across 50+ races—including how event formats are evolving, why women’s field dynamics matter, and how she plans her nutrition, positioning, and pacing to gain a competitive edge.
With practical insight and honest storytelling, this episode maps out what every racer should know before their next gravel start line.
How to Not Ruin Race Week: The Apex Blueprint for Event Success
You’ve trained hard. You’re fit. You’re ready.
But if you don’t have a plan for race week, all that work can unravel—fast.
In Episode 4 of the Reach Your Apex Podcast, coaches Neal Henderson and Zach pull back the curtain on the most common race week mistakes and what to do instead.
You’ll learn:
Why rest on Monday beats rest on Friday
How to taper without getting stale
The overlooked dangers of travel and hotel breakfasts
Real mental prep strategies that work when your legs scream “stop”
Plus: A Monday-to-Sunday walk-through of what to do each day. From logistics to mindset, this is the ultimate playbook for showing up sharp when it counts most.
👉 Listen now and share with a training partner who’s aiming high.
#ReachYourApex #EventWeekPlanning #GravelRacing #CyclingTips #MindsetMatters #FuelSmart #EatRideSleep
Fitness Gets You In the Game. Skills Pay the Bills.
The Hidden Wins: Maximizing Race Day Performance Without Changing Fitness
In this episode, Neal Henderson is joined by elite cyclist Andrea Deák to dismantle the myth that fitness alone determines race outcomes. Drawing on decades of coaching experience and elite-level racing, they explore the true differentiators—technique, strategy, equipment, fueling, group dynamics, and mental mastery. Whether you're targeting your first gravel race or trying to edge out a podium finish, this conversation is your blueprint for extracting every watt of performance you've earned—without changing your FTP. Think of it as your marginal gains masterclass.
Expect actionable insights. No fluff. Just real-world wisdom to help you Reach Your Apex.
Crack the Code : How Testing Reveals Your True Cycling Potential
It all begins with an idea.