Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad TRAINING MISTAKES THAT MAKE YOU SLOWER | Pro Cyclist Zach Calton | Ask a Cycling Coach 551
Sep 18, 2025
Zach Calton, a professional gravel racer and Lifetime Grand Prix athlete, shares insights from his competitive journey, including his comeback from illness and crashes. He explores the nuances of polarized training and reveals common misconceptions about Training Stress Score (TSS). Zach emphasizes the importance of load management and mental resilience, discusses essential sprint training for all cyclists, and highlights three critical mistakes: poor fueling, neglecting skills, and sacrificing long-term consistency for quick gains.
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Season Of Two Halves
- Zach describes a season split in two: a difficult early block (illness, crashes, DNF) followed by big wins later in the year.
- He credits load management and a deliberate mental reset after a rest trip to New York for the turnaround.
Reset Then Rebuild Deliberately
- After a big failure or overreach, take clear rest and then rebuild with acceptance of your current fitness.
- Treat the restart like the start of a new block and build steadily rather than guessing whether you're still overtrained.
Let RPE Guide Power On Rough Climbs
- Use power as a guide but prioritize RPE and conditions on rough, high-elevation courses.
- On long off-road climbs, back off when RPE dictates even if power targets seem achievable.