"Do these concepts apply to swimming or running as well?"

These training concepts work exceptionally well for swimming/running events of approximately 3 weeks duration...

Seriously, though, the idea here is that the tour is long enough that it, in and of itself, comprises an entire training cycle, or a rough analogue of one. Riders will aim to peak for the part of the race they hope to perform well in, and for some that will entail entering the event "undertrained," or perhaps more usefully, "not peaked," and "build fitness" as the race goes on (although, to a large extent, the more accurate description might well be that they are aiming to fade less, rather than get faster...)





.

---

Tech writer/support on this here site. FIST school instructor and certified bike fitter. Formerly at Diamondback Bikes, LeMond Fitness, FSA, TiCycles, etc.
Coaching and bike fit - http://source-e.net/ Cyclocross blog - https://crosssports.net/ BJJ instruction - https://ballardbjj.com/

Okay, you got me on the swimming/running events thing...I still want to know how to do it though, not just "how they do it". I suspect, upon further thinking, that it starts with a VERY strong aerobic base.