In this engaging discussion, the relevance of Functional Threshold Power (FTP) takes center stage as hosts debate whether it should still be a primary focus for cyclists. They introduce new TrainerRoad features that enhance training personalization and emphasize the importance of durability alongside FTP. Critical insights on recovery practices highlight the risks of overexertion during rest intervals. Listeners will also gain valuable advice on balancing training with life's demands, making this a must-listen for cycling enthusiasts.

Hannah Otto, a professional gravel cyclist for Scott Bikes, shares her insights on optimizing Zone 2 training. She discusses common myths surrounding heart rate training and highlights the importance of balancing heart rate and power. The conversation delves into the significance of cadence in performance, especially for enhancing power outputs. Audiences can also expect tips on avoiding overtraining and incorporating effective recovery strategies, along with the mental aspects of cycling that contribute to overall performance.

In this engaging discussion, Alex Wild and Zach Calton, star members of Team CycleSport.com, recap their intense experiences at the rain-soaked Cape Epic 2025. They dive into the unexpected race day challenges, from torrential downpours to delays, and share their personal feelings of frustration and growth amidst the chaos. The duo reflects on the vital roles of community and family support, revealing how overcoming hurdles fosters resilience and connection in the world of endurance cycling.

In a challenging stage of the 2025 Cape Epic, riders faced horrendous mud and navigational misadventures. Personal struggles, like contact lens woes, added to the day’s difficulties. Mechanical issues tested their teamwork, yet camaraderie shone through amidst the chaos. The hosts share reflections on the race's brutality and the endurance needed to thrive in such tough conditions. As they gear up for the final stage, excitement and support from the biking community is palpable.

Zach Calton, a professional cyclist competing in the grueling Absa Cape Epic, shares his intense experiences alongside teammate Alex Wild. They recount the chaos of Stage 5, including a catastrophic bike failure and a dramatic crash that had them shouldering their bikes and walking barefoot. The duo discusses the mental hurdles of continuing the race despite adversities and the camaraderie among competitors. Plus, they offer a sneak peek into the challenges of the next stage, emphasizing the endurance required in this extreme competition.

This discussion dives into intense hydration challenges and the physical strains riders faced during competition. The hosts share hilarious yet relatable stories of leg pain and crashes, emphasizing the importance of pacing. They analyze race strategies and reveal their tactics for navigating descents. Excitement builds as they preview the demanding Queen Stage, anticipating the impact of light rain. Get insights into their training methods and the camaraderie that fuels their journey!

Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 www.TrainerRoad.comJoin the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: https://trainerroad.cc/apple2 Spotify: https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2 Google Podcasts: https://trainerroad.cc/google// TOPICS COVERED(00:00) Welcome!(00:13) Stage 3 Performance Recap(00:40) Battling the 104º/40º Heat!(01:28) Managing Nutrition and Hydration(03:14) Race Strategy and Competitor Dynamics(04:25) Course Details and Challenges(07:44) Weather Forecast and Equipment Adjustments(08:53) Looking Ahead to Stage 4Join us for Stage 3 recap of the ABSA Cape Epic 2025 with Team CycleSport.com’s Zach Calton and Alex Wild!40º / 104º temperatures made for a scorching day that even caused the race organizers to prematurely cancel the stage for amateurs at 2:00pm local time.Alex and Zach share how they adjusted nutrition, hydration strategies, and equipment choices that helped them cope with the grueling conditions. Support Zach and Alex by following their journey and engaging with them on instagram. Leave your comments and encouragement below!// RESOURCES MENTIONED- Watch Cape Epic Livestreams and Recaps: https://www.youtube.com/EpicSeries_Race_The_World - Support their sponsor, Cyclesport.com! https://www.cyclesport.com/- Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexwildmtb/ - Follow Zach on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachcalton/ - Learn more about Cape Epic: https://www.epic-series.com/capeepic-event-route - Sign up for TrainerRoad! https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster- Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub // TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.// HELPFUL LINKS- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: https://trainerroad.cc/3HTFXNi- Watch our latest Cycling Science Explained video now! https://youtu.be/z2HXE1-il_Q - TrainerRoad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/- TrainerRoad Forum: https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE- TrainerRoad on Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad- TrainerRoad on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd- TrainerRoad on X: https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad - Learn more about TrainerRoad: https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur- Learn more about Adaptive Training: https://trainerroad.cc/35Tqtea - Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP- Training Blog: https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN

Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 www.TrainerRoad.comJoin the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: https://trainerroad.cc/apple2 Spotify: https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2 Google Podcasts: https://trainerroad.cc/google// TOPICS COVERED(00:00) Welcome!(01:33) The flat tire from hell(08:16) How to Recover from Adversity Mid-Race(11:32) Stage 3 2025 Absa Cape Epic(18:11) Conclusion and Final ThoughtsJoin Coach Jonathan for a thorough breakdown of stage two of the 2025 ABSA Cape Epic with team Cycle Sports' Alex Wild and Zach Kelton. They discuss the challenges faced in a 66km time trial, including mechanical failures, and how they impacted the team's performance. Learn about the race rules, personal experiences, and the team's strategy moving forward. Support their racing efforts by following the sponsor links and using the discount codes shared in this episode!// RESOURCES MENTIONED- Watch Cape Epic Livestreams and Recaps: https://www.youtube.com/EpicSeries_Race_The_World - Support their sponsor, Cyclesport.com! https://www.cyclesport.com/- Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexwildmtb/ - Follow Zach on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachcalton/ - Learn more about Cape Epic: https://www.epic-series.com/capeepic-event-route - Sign up for TrainerRoad! https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster- Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub // TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.// HELPFUL LINKS- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: https://trainerroad.cc/3HTFXNi- Watch our latest Cycling Science Explained video now! https://youtu.be/z2HXE1-il_Q - TrainerRoad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/- TrainerRoad Forum: https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE- TrainerRoad on Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad- TrainerRoad on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd- TrainerRoad on X: https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad - Learn more about TrainerRoad: https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur- Learn more about Adaptive Training: https://trainerroad.cc/35Tqtea - Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP- Training Blog: https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN

Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 www.TrainerRoad.comJoin the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: https://trainerroad.cc/apple2 Spotify: https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2 Google Podcasts: https://trainerroad.cc/google// TOPICS COVERED(00:00) Welcome!(00:11) Cape Epic 2025 Stage 1 Breakdown(00:43) An absolutely brutal start(03:01) Partner Race Strategies and Tactics(05:33) Managing Physical and Mental Fatigue in a stage race(15:19) Logistics of transfer stages in Cape Epic(18:05) Looking Ahead to the Time TrialJoin Coach Jonathan Lee, Alex Wild, and Zach Calton from the CycleSport.com team as they recap Stage 1 of the 2025 Absa Cape Epic. Alex and Zach were able to move up two positions in GC on a truly chaotic day. We cover the intense wind, dust, sketchy trails, and extremely hard start from Stage 1. We also get into how to manage frustration and expectations when your performance doesn’t match your expectations. Tune in for this and a look ahead at tomorrow’s extremely long 66km/41mi Time Trial Stage!// RESOURCES MENTIONED- Watch Cape Epic Livestreams and Recaps: https://www.youtube.com/EpicSeries_Race_The_World - Support their sponsor, Cyclesport.com! https://www.cyclesport.com/- Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexwildmtb/ - Follow Zach on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachcalton/ - Learn more about Cape Epic: https://www.epic-series.com/capeepic-event-route - Sign up for TrainerRoad! https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster- Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub // TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.// HELPFUL LINKS- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: https://trainerroad.cc/3HTFXNi- Watch our latest Cycling Science Explained video now! https://youtu.be/z2HXE1-il_Q - TrainerRoad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/- TrainerRoad Forum: https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE- TrainerRoad on Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad- TrainerRoad on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd- TrainerRoad on X: https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad - Learn more about TrainerRoad: https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur- Learn more about Adaptive Training: https://trainerroad.cc/35Tqtea - Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP- Training Blog: https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN

Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 www.TrainerRoad.comJoin the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: https://trainerroad.cc/apple2 Spotify: https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2 Google Podcasts: https://trainerroad.cc/google// TOPICS COVERED(00:00) Welcome!(01:12) How to Build a Race Strategy for Cape Epic(12:10) Managing Heat and Hydration at Cape Epic(14:36) How Alex Wild and Zach Calton warmed up at Cape Epic(17:22) Cape Epic Stage 1 PreviewGet an exclusive inside look at the Cape Epic with team CycleSport.com’s Alex Wild and Zach Calton. They break down their performance in the prologue, discuss their pacing strategies and team dynamics, and share insights on tackling challenging climbs and technical descents. Plus, they delve into heat management, their warm-up routines, nutrition strategies, and what to expect in Stage 1 of the Absa Cape Epic tomorrow!Follow their journey through the Cape Epic and learn from their experiences all week!// RESOURCES MENTIONED- Watch Cape Epic Livestreams and Recaps: https://www.youtube.com/EpicSeries_Race_The_World - Support their sponsor, Cyclesport.com! https://www.cyclesport.com/- Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexwildmtb/ - Follow Zach on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachcalton/ - Learn more about Cape Epic: https://www.epic-series.com/capeepic-event-route - Sign up for TrainerRoad! https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster- Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub // TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.// HELPFUL LINKS- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: https://trainerroad.cc/3HTFXNi- Watch our latest Cycling Science Explained video now! https://youtu.be/z2HXE1-il_Q - TrainerRoad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/- TrainerRoad Forum: https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE- TrainerRoad on Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad- TrainerRoad on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd- TrainerRoad on X: https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad - Learn more about TrainerRoad: https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur- Learn more about Adaptive Training: https://trainerroad.cc/35Tqtea - Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP- Training Blog: https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN