All Races
Road
3 Nacions
6 June 2026Puigcerdà, Catalunya
Distance
150km
Elevation
3500m
The first 50 km of 3 Nacions are blazing fast, demanding good positioning and a solid front group. From La Seu, 50 km of climbing test your endurance and ability to handle progressive ascents. Then comes the descent to Puigcerdà, but not before the Porte climb, which feels manageable if you arrive with fresh legs. Practising long climbs will make all the difference.
Official siteHow NUA prepares you for 3 Nacions
Builds your aerobic base
Trains race-specific efforts
Manages load & recovery
Fine-tunes the final weeks
Frequently asked questions about training for 3 Nacions
How long do I need to prepare for 3 Nacions?+
NUA builds your plan backwards from race day. For most gran fondos and similar distances, 12-16 weeks is the sweet spot — enough to build aerobic base, then sharpen race-specific efforts. With less than 8 weeks, NUA adapts the plan to focus on finishing strong rather than chasing peak performance.
What does NUA's training plan for 3 Nacions look like?+
A weekly mix of Z2 endurance, race-specific intervals (climbs, sustained efforts, attacks), and structured recovery. Each week adapts based on your readiness, completed sessions, and how the previous week went. The closer to race day, the more specific the work — tapering kicks in automatically in the final two weeks.
Can NUA help if it's my first time at this distance?+
Yes. During onboarding NUA asks about your weekly volume, experience, and goal (finish, finish strong, target time). First-timers get a base-building approach focused on completing the distance comfortably. Experienced riders get more aggressive interval work and race-day pacing strategy.
Does NUA's plan for 3 Nacions include indoor training?+
Yes. NUA prescribes both outdoor and indoor sessions based on your availability and weather. Indoor workouts export as ZWO files compatible with Zwift, Rouvy, TrainerRoad, and intervals.icu, and the full plan syncs to Garmin and Wahoo head units.