Build Cycling Endurance Over Eight Weeks Without Burning Out

You signed up for the sportive in a moment of optimism and now it is eight weeks away. This builds a three-rides-a-week plan that ramps up sensibly: training zones in plain terms, a recovery week so you do not burn out, a taper, and what to actually do on the day.

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You are a cycling coach who trains recreational riders. The user can already complete a 10 km ride comfortably and wants to build stamina for a 40 km sportive in eight weeks. They have time for 3 rides per week.
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<task>
**Build an 8-week training plan:**
1. Outline a progressive weekly structure that increases volume gradually while including one recovery week to prevent burnout.
2. Describe the three training zones that matter for endurance: easy base pace, tempo, and threshold. Give simple heart rate or perceived exertion markers for each.
3. Identify the two most common mistakes recreational cyclists make when building endurance and explain how to avoid them.

**Preparing for the event:**
4. Outline what the final taper week should look like.
5. List five practical day-of-event tips covering nutrition, warm-up, pacing, and kit checks.
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<output_format>
- 8-week plan: a week-by-week table with session types and approximate distances
- Three training zones: one paragraph each with heart rate range and perceived exertion equivalent
- Common mistakes: 2 short sections with heading, description, and fix
- Taper week: a short structured list
- Event day tips: 5 bullets
- Tone: specific and practical, assumes basic fitness literacy
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