With just a month to go until hundreds of cyclists line up to start the inaugural Black Legend Sportive, now is the perfect time to get out on Wiltshire's road to train for a successful ride on Sunday, March 22.

Following last week’s introduction to sportives, Purple Patch coach and Ironman triathlete Claire Donald outlines a four-week cycling training plan, the perfect preparation for getting up Combe Gibbet hill on the day.

“This training programme has been designed specifically for those looking to tackle the ‘Standard’ 65 or ‘Epic’ 80 mile routes of the Black Legend Sportive," she says.

"If you’re taking on the 45 mile route, slightly reduce each of the suggested times accordingly."

Claire says in the lead up to the event, which starts in Hungerford and crosses back into Wiltshire into the scenic Marlborough Downs, aim to cycle four times each week, with preferably two sessions midweek and on each Saturday and Sunday - barring the Saturday of 'race day' weekend, which should be a rest day.

Two midweek sessions could fit into your daily routine, so try and get them in before or after work. The aim of these sessions is to complete 75 to 90 minutes of ‘steady’ pace cycling.

"On one of the two days the ride should be broken up to include three 10-minute periods of harder cycling – if you’re on a bike which can track your cadence, this will be increasing it from about 90 to 110RPM," she says.

"On Saturdays, the rides should be slightly shorter, try to aim for about an hour and try to include some shorter, more intense bursts of harder cycling.

"I suggest trying to ride standing for a minute followed by two minutes of seated riding – repeat this ten times mid-way through your ride.

"The Sunday rides should be endurance based – I suggest aiming for around the three hour mark, aiming to maintain a steady cadence of 90RPM.”

Entry fees range from £25 - £29 and all finishers will receive a hangman-style medal.

The event is the first sportive to be held and organised by Purple Patch, an established team of race organisers who currently manage a number of other events across the region including the Genpact Pharmalink Maidenhead Half Marathon and Butler’s Bonk Duathlon in Reading.

Visit www.purplepatchrunning.com for more information and entry details.