Having a strong threshold is crucial to cycling performance. Whether your goal is to ride as a professional cyclist or simply to get fitter, improving your threshold (FTP) will help you on your journey. Today we will work on 'pushing' your FTP up from below and 'pulling' from above. Alternating cadences in the first interval will spike your heart rate while the power remains stable.
This is a race-simulation session, with intervals that are representative of a race, that also works on your threshold power. So not only will you get a taste of racing, but you will get a good training benefit too.
This is a tough session, so prepare yourself appropriately. Have two bottles on hand and maybe even a gel during the warm up.
To accurately assess the strengths of each Zwift Academy participant, some of the sessions are focused on allowing you to fill out your Power Duration curve. Today's session is all about producing your best 20 second power.
Prior to completing this maximal effort, the session includes a range of intervals that will allow you to get a feel for your target 20 second maximal power.
Developing your anaerobic power doesn't always come from sprinting. Increasing your anaerobic power capacity can be done in a number of ways. This session explores some options. They all require maximum effort and maximum suffering!
On a smart trainer, this workout is best done with ERG mode off for the hard efforts. This enables you to give 100% without the trainer interfering. You can toggle ERG mode on and off throughout the workout via the options bar at bottom of your screen or within the workout screen of the Zwift Companion app.
To accurately assess the strengths of each Zwift Academy participant, some of the sessions are focused on allowing you to fill out your Power Duration curve. Today's session is all about producing your best 1 minute power.
Prior to completing this maximal effort, the session includes a range of intervals that will allow you to get a feel for your target 1 minute maximal power.
Racing at the top level can be unpredictable. Often the start of the race is the hardest part of the whole day. This workout will highlight the impact of a hard start on the body.
Training to develop our VO2max requires high intensity intervals where the majority (but not all) of the power produced comes from aerobic energy pathways.
Athletes who excel in this area are generally able to climb and Time Trial well. On its own, VO2max interval training is an effective method to increase fitness. It also serves as a good indication of an athlete's potential.
To accurately assess the strengths of each Zwift Academy participant, some of the sessions are focused on allowing you to fill out your Power Duration curve. Today's session is all about producing your best 4 minute power.
Prior to completing this maximal effort, the session includes a range of intervals that will allow you to get a feel for your target 4 minute maximal power.
Big session today! Now that you're into the ZA Semi finals we are going to implement training that targets specific areas of fitness. We open with 6 x 2min Anaerobic Capacity efforts, however the target power increases from 'hard' to 'very hard'! The workout concludes with a 6min VO2 effort featuring the same steady increase in target power.
This is a good 'pre-race' ride, perfect activation ahead of an event, test, race, or just to open the legs! The session includes a steady priming effort close to your FTP and some phosphate sprints to prime the neuromuscular system without fatiguing the body too much. The day after this session you should be ready to race! It is better to do this session with ERG Mode OFF.
Love them or hate them, time trials are an essential part of racing. Being able to pace yourself through the duration of the effort is crucial. Put yourself into the hurt locker as we simulate the 2019 World Championships Women's and U23 Time Trial course!
Can you produce high aerobic power and repeat it? Today we are testing your ability to repeat high intensity aerobic efforts with 2 x 8min intervals. An athlete with a well developed aerobic engine will be within 5% of their first interval. We will also play with the numbers a little to estimate your FTP. 8min Power can be used to check your FTP, but not normally used to set your FTP. Treat each 8 minute interval as if it were the only effort. Give it FULL-GAS!