Magic Workouts?
The study sounds quite familiar to a lot of anecdotal training theories I've come across. Basically, you do a big block of endurance, working up to tempo / sub-maximal, then as you come close to beginning to race you do two or three weeks of short intervals above threshold (ie. VO2 or similar) - some may even call this 'polarised training'!
Have a listen to George Bennett on the Stanley Street Podcast for an insight to his training and peaking Their Story
https://www.outsideonline.com/2408756/cycling-sprints-workout-study