Minimum FTP sufficient for pro tour?

Originally Posted by cslone

According to the power profile chart, around 5.96 w/kg for the lower end of Euro pro. So around 430w. Obviously an estimate, but probably not too far off.

Originally Posted by kant314

what power profile chart?

Originally Posted by cslone

According to the power profile chart, around 5.96 w/kg for the lower end of Euro pro. So around 430w. Obviously an estimate, but probably not too far off.

Originally Posted by donm

... I'm just not 100% sure where the numbers in the table are coming from.

Originally Posted by daveryanwyoming

This explains it quite well: http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com...411/profile.asp

But seeing as you've already seen that link....

The top of the tables are pinned to known world class performances in various different disciplines. The bottom of the tables is likewise pinned to resarch data on untrained subjects. The numbers in between are interpolated and are supported in part by real world experience.

That means a couple of things:

- The best short efforts represent world class sprinters and track cyclists. The best long efforts represent road racers, time trialists, grand tour GC riders etc. At the high end you won't find any single rider who can hit the top numbers for both 5 second and one hour power. An amateur might have a pretty flat profile across time durations but those charts represent best efforts by folks who specialize so don't expect to hit top numbers across the board.

- Discussions on these forums and elsewhere remind us that power and w/kg aren't the whole story. Racers in lower categories in particular seem to have trouble with the tables as many can hit or exceed the listed numbers but still struggle in their races. Racing involves a lot more than pure power but it's a heck of a good starting point if you also race well.

- FTP expressed in watts/kg is most applicable to sustained climbing situations. Ideally time trialists or racing on the flats would be characterized by watts/CdA ( watts per aerodynamic drag) but that's tougher to measure and CdA tends to follow weight (big riders punch a bigger hole in the air and also weigh more). So watts/Kg is still a good reference point.

Anyway, the charts haven't been validated at each level and Andy has spent a lot of energy reminding folks that the category labels are just general reference and not to be taken too literally. The tables are best used to identify a particular rider's strengths and weaknesses which can be used to guide training and perhaps race tactics but it's hard not to gravitate to the category references.

-Dave

Originally Posted by donm

Thanks for the explanation - that's very clear. Does anyone have any reliable one hour power output data for lower-tier protour riders? I'd be interested to see it if it's out there. Coggan's tables are interesting, and while the reference points for the top of the table are transparent, the rest of the table isn't.

Originally Posted by donm

... Does anyone have any reliable one hour power output data for lower-tier protour riders? ....

Originally Posted by whoawhoa

I recall seeing Michael Barry's FTP being listed in a Velonews article as 5.7 watts/kilo (can't be positive of the accuracy of that). He's probably not a lower-tier rider but not a higher tier one either.

The chart on this page is sort of interesting: http://biketechreview.com/performance/la_cant_doit.htm

Just remember that
1)This was in the middle of a Grand Tour
2) Riders not fighting for a GC spot typically sandbag GT time trials
3) It's an estimate.

Originally Posted by daveryanwyoming

Check out this link for some Predictor Lotto riders power files: http://blog.trainingpeaks.com/

They're training rides, but you can back out FTP from NP and IF values. For instance Win de Vocht's FTP at the time of the posted training ride was 379 watts based on an NP of 270 watts and an IF of 0.712.

I've seen race power files posted before, there were some from this year's TDF and some from Tour of California. You should be able to google some links.

-Dave