Tapering consists of reducing training volume and intensity before a competition to decrease fatigue while maintaining peak fitness, rather than stopping completely or continuing to train hard.

noli's read

This advice is solidly supported by sports science. Meta-analyses (notably Bosquet et al., 2007) confirm that tapering improves physical performance by dissipating accumulated fatigue while preserving, or even increasing, physiological adaptations. The optimal strategy identified by research effectively consists of drastically reducing volume (often by 40 to 60%), while maintaining high intensity to avoid detraining (the 'rusty' effect). The creator rightly highlights the classic error of stopping completely, which can lead to a decrease in plasma volume and muscular power. The idea of 'maintaining involvement' is consistent with evidence showing that a too-sudden drop in session frequency can be counterproductive. There is no exaggeration here; on the contrary, the discourse is very close to current recommendations for endurance athletes.

the sources

1. 1Wang Z, Wang YT, Gao W, Zhong Y 2023
2. 2Bonnar D, Bartel K, Kakoschke N, Lang C 2018