16-Week Cycling Training Program for Sustained and Punchy Power (#218)
Oct 16, 2024
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Prepare to optimize your cycling game! Discover how to balance steady power with those explosive bursts needed for tough climbs. Coach Adam Pulford unveils a 16-week training plan tailored for endurance events, covering effective training blocks and weekly structure. Learn the art of periodization and the crucial role of recovery. Plus, get insights on peak phase training and tapering strategies for maximized performance. Perfect for mastering the demands of time trials and gravel races!
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Quick takeaways
A 16-week training program must balance long threshold intervals with short, intense efforts to optimize race performance.
Periodization is crucial for developing strength and power, organized into phases that progressively elevate fitness while preventing burnout.
Deep dives
Balancing Training for Different Race Types
Athletes face the challenge of balancing their training to excel in both long threshold (LT) intervals and short, intense efforts required for various race formats. Effective training involves identifying the right mix of hard training days, particularly for those competing in events like time trials and gravel races. A structured approach that incorporates both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems helps athletes develop the necessary endurance and power for their specific race challenges. For instance, athletes should focus more on extensive FTP intervals during the early phases of training and gradually transition to more intense anaerobic workouts as they approach competition.
The Importance of Periodization in Training
Periodization is a key strategy for optimizing cycling performance, which involves organizing training cycles to build strength and power progressively over time. A common framework includes three main phases: base training to develop endurance, followed by a build phase focused on increasing intensity, and culminating in a peak phase to prepare for competition. Each phase should consist of a mix of long and short interval training sessions that progressively elevate the athlete's fitness levels without leading to burnout. For example, incorporating extensive FTP intervals during base training and transitioning to speed intervals in the peak phase can maximize performance gains before a key race.
Individualization in Training Plans
To enhance performance, training plans should be customized to align with each athlete's strengths, weaknesses, and historical performance data. Understanding whether an athlete excels at long LT efforts or short punchy intervals can inform how to structure their training for optimal results. For instance, if an athlete is particularly strong in endurance but struggles with short bursts of intensity, early exposure to anaerobic training can prevent it from becoming a limiting factor later on. This individualized approach allows athletes to refine their skills while balancing the diverse demands of their racing events.
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Crafting a Balanced Training Plan for Endurance and Punchy Cycling
OVERVIEW Overview: Let's say you have cycling event coming up that requires both steady, sustained power and short, punchy accelerations or climbs? How do you train to optimize both? Coach Adam Pulford describes the structure of a 16-week training plan he would use for this scenario.
TOPICS COVERED
Demands of training for long efforts vs. short efforts
HOST Adam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.