Three Biggest Mistakes Cyclists Make

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// TOPICS COVERED

(0:00:00) Welcome!

(0:07:21) How Zach Calton won Crusher in the Tushar

(0:11:12) Polarized Training for Racing

(0:22:04) How Individual is Training Volume?

(0:25:41) What a Pro Thinks Amateurs Misunderstand About TSS

(0:32:59) Should Every Cyclist Train Their Sprint?

(0:46:41) 3 Biggest Mistakes in Cycling

(1:01:58) Leadville Power File Comparison

In this episode of the Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast, Zach Calton joins to break down the training mistakes that can actually make cyclists slower. Zach shares the highs and lows of his season—bouncing back from illness, crashes, and overtraining at Cape Epic and Unbound to winning Crusher in the Tushar and Park City Point to Point. The discussion dives into polarized training, how pros think amateurs misunderstand TSS, and how important it is to manage training load, pacing, and mental resilience. Coach Jonathan and Zach also cover whether every cyclist should train their sprint, the three biggest mistakes athletes make with their cycling, plus a power file comparison from Leadville that shows how pacing and efficiency trump raw watts. It’s a deep look at practical lessons for anyone aiming to train smarter, race better, and avoid the pitfalls that hold riders back.

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