Stay Home Story with Chris Harper

How are you?
I am doing well. After my return to Adelaide, I had to go into quarantine for two weeks under government regulations because I returned from Europe. My sister returned from London a day later. We spent those two weeks at my parents’ farm about twenty minutes from our family home. It is very beautiful and peaceful here and it is also good to see your family again. Especially in these uncertain times.

What do your workouts and training look like at the moment?

Just like the other guys, I also have some changes in my daily training. With my trainer Tim Heemskerk I have made a nice schedule to maintain my fitness level over the coming weeks, but also to keep mentally fresh. It are uncertain times for everyone and therefore we can’t set ourselves any race targets. I have spent a lot of time on the Tacx during those two weeks in quarantine. In addition, I have not been using Zwift for a while, but lately I have used it more often as a great training tool to add some variety to my sessions and also to have some fun.

How do you get on with your days?

To be honest, my days are not very exciting at the moment. Some days I get up and take the dog for a walk in the area around our farm. On the other days I walk straight to the kitchen to make coffee. I normally start my Tacx workouts late in the morning or early afternoon. After lunch I continue with core stability exercises and stretching. The weather in Adelaide has been really nice lately, so I always try to sit outside in the sun and relax in the afternoon.

How do you motivate yourself?

It is of course mentally disappointing that we can’t race for a while. Especially since it is my first year as a professional and I was really looking forward to the upcoming races. But in the end, there are bigger problems in the world right now. And that certainly isn’t the fact that we are not able to race. Of course, it can be a bit tough mentally to get excited every day to do your workouts, but the fact and thought that I can still ride my bike and that I am happy and healthy is worth a lot to me.

Which series or movies do you watch at the moment?

I haven’t seen a really good series in a long time. I watched a few movies on my laptop while doing my workouts on the Tacx. I recently watched the movie 1917. After having watched that movie sitting on the Tacx didn’t seem so bad.

Which songs do you play on your playlist by default?

When I’m on the Tacx, I mainly listen to party and electronic dance music. I then listen to the different playlists on Spotify. I don’t really have one favourite in particular. Depending on the type of workout I have to do, the volume goes up as wel. The harder the bass the better.

Do you have any tips for people to stay fit?

I’m certainly not an expert, but consistency is definitely the key in this story. It is better to do something for half an hour to an hour every day, than to exhaust yourself once a week and then do nothing for the rest of the week. I think even the simple things are underestimated. Everything ultimately requires strength and condition. And all this is ultimately good for your health and it is also pleasant.

What is your favourite dish?

I really like having porridge with berries, honey and some Greek yogurt before a hard day on the bike. That, or mixing it up with pancakes. That is really delicious

What other sports do you like?

I like watching most sports. I don’t follow it all very well at the moment, but when it is on TV I enjoy watching it. I used to play a lot of tennis when I was younger and whenever the Grand Slams are on I can really enjoy watching some of the matches

What is your favourite game?

I am more into the video games. I believe I haven’t played a board game in years. My PlayStation 4 is currently in lockdown in Girona, so I haven’t been able to play anything lately. But when I play, I prefer to play Grand Theft Auto, FIFA, Call of Duty or Fortnite. I might have to track down a Playstation 4 here in Adelaide to see if any of the Team Jumbo-Visma fans are keen to test out my FIFA skills online.

Which apps on your phone are running in overtime?
Especially the news and the usual social networking apps such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Especially for a bit of distraction.

What is your guilty pleasure?
A bag of Kettle chips. Potatoes, oil and sea salt. What is not to love about it?