what do you think of this workout?

The following abstract (and I have yet to read the full article) argues for training blocks rather than mixed training. This is macrocycles and microcycles not an individual session but the same principle is at play. At the recent NZ Age Group Track Nationals I had riders doing both Sprint and Endurance events (as young kids should try all events) so they would do sprint sessions, pursuit sessions and points race sessions and each session would aim to overload them in regards to their event. I think, and results were promising, that this was a better option than mixed sessions where they would do 1 -2 sprint efforts, 1-2 pursuit efforts and a Points Race effort.

Quoted post said:

New Horizons for the Methodology and Physiology of Training Periodization

Author: Issurin, Vladimir B.
Source: Sports Medicine, Volume 40, Number 3, 1 March 2010 , pp. 189-206(18)
Abstract:
The theory of training was established about five decades ago when knowledge of athletes' preparation was far from complete and the biological background was based on a relatively small amount of objective research findings. At that time, traditional `training periodization', a division of the entire seasonal programme into smaller periods and training units, was proposed and elucidated. Since then, international sport and sport science have experienced tremendous changes, while the traditional training periodization has remained at more or less the same level as the published studies of the initial publications. As one of the most practically oriented components of theory, training periodization is intended to offer coaches basic guidelines for structuring and planning training. However, during recent decades contradictions between the traditional model of periodization and the demands of high-performance sport practice have inevitably developed. The main limitations of traditional periodization stemmed from: (i) conflicting physiological responses produced by `mixed' training directed at many athletic abilities; (ii) excessive fatigue elicited by prolonged periods of multi-targeted training; (iii) insufficient training stimulation induced by workloads of medium and low concentration typical of `mixed' training; and (iv) the inability to provide multi-peak performances over the season. The attempts to overcome these limitations led to development of alternative periodization concepts. The recently developed block periodization model offers an alternative revamped approach for planning the training of high-performance athletes. Its general idea proposes the sequencing of specialized training cycles, i.e. blocks, which contain highly concentrated workloads directed to a minimal number of targeted abilities. Unlike the traditional model, in which the simultaneous development of many athletic abilities predominates, block-periodized training presupposes the consecutive development of reasonably selected target abilities. The content of block-periodized training is set down in its general principles, a taxonomy of mesocycle blocks, and guidelines for compiling an annual plan.

lanierb said:

I was poking around looking for workouts to shake things up a little and found this article:

Association of British Cycling Coaches - Coaching Article

My view is that without evidence the physiological justification for the workout is basically speculation. However, I am at least intrigued.

The thing is I can't figure out what the workout is doing. From a pure power point of view it is L7/L6/L5. However, you're going to be a bit tired for the L6, and awfully tired when you get to the L5, so is that really going to develop L4? Or is it doing something else entirely different than we are used to talking about?

Curious what people think. The novelty here seems to be the suggestion that working several different levels in a prescribed order can actually promote different adaptations than you would otherwise think if you just added up something like "time in zone".

I don't think it's so much of actually "being tired" that's the problem, it's the mental aspect that's harder.

I remember when I used to do intervals that went progressively shorter per set, I'd be absolutely blasted out of my skull coming into the last set and sometimes, especially just a session or two into transitioning from a winter of long hard steady rides, this effort was mentally more difficult to deal with but the end result was worth it.

I could see that session being very manageable, albeit painful. Rather long too with all those breaks but there's no denying you've gotta be in good health and have a massive base of training behind you to reap the rewards from this.