Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad

THIS IS WHAT PROS DO TO RAISE FTP | Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast 570

17 snips
Jan 29, 2026
Guest
Hannah Otto
Hannah Otto, pro cyclist and coach with elite racing experience, shares how pros build threshold fitness and why FTP is a functional anchor not a scoreboard. Shorter intervals and progressive overload often beat forcing long tests. They talk racing-specific training choices, handling tradeoffs like drop bars, and practical mountain bike technique tips.
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ANECDOTE

Hannah Heads To Mediterranean Epic

  • Hannah Otto leaves for Spain in less than two weeks to race the Mediterranean Epic.
  • Her early-season racing frames her training choices and practice of event-specific preparation.
INSIGHT

Testing Methods Give Different FTPs

  • Different FTP tests (ramp, 20-min, hour, lab) yield different numbers and vary by athlete anaerobic contribution.
  • Treat testing results loosely and use the number that best anchors consistent, realistic training rather than chasing a single 'true' value.
INSIGHT

Pro Training Mirrors Principles, Not Myths

  • Pro training distribution is often pyramidal, not strictly polarized, and includes early-season VO2 and threshold work.
  • Pros train similar principles to amateurs but with more time and years of base to support higher volume and intensity.
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