CoachingAnswer

WHAT IS CTL IN TRAININGPEAKS?

By Anthony WalshRoadman CyclingUpdated 7 September 2026

WHO THIS IS FOR

IS THIS YOU?

Reading your training chart

You want to understand what the CTL line measures before acting on it.

Comparing platforms

Your tools show different values and you need to check the inputs and settings.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

DO THIS WEEK

Check the diary first
Confirm that completed rides are recorded once and that rest days are included. Check the threshold setting used to generate your training scores before interpreting a change.
Compare like with like
When two platforms disagree, compare their starting CTL, daily scores and time constants over the same dates. Different inputs can explain a different line.
Look for a change in riding
Alongside the score, review comparable efforts, how late in a ride you can still do the work you intended, and your own training notes. Record the conditions so you are comparing more than a single number.

COMMON MISTAKES

WHAT CYCLISTS GET WRONG

MISTAKEAdding training solely to keep the line rising.
FIXStart with the purpose of the next session and the time you can recover. The chart does not choose the right training for your event.
MISTAKETreating a short calculator entry as a complete training history.
FIXEnter the starting values from the day before the sequence. A model beginning at zero cannot recover the training you did before its first day.

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does CTL equal fitness?

No. TrainingPeaks labels CTL Fitness, but the calculation uses training scores. It does not measure your performance or establish how well you have adapted.

What is a good CTL for a cyclist?

There is no target that establishes readiness for every rider or event. Compare your own training history, riding and response instead of treating another rider’s CTL as a requirement.

Can CTL fall during a taper?

Yes. Reducing the recorded daily load can lower CTL. That change alone does not tell you whether your taper is working.

Why does my CTL differ between apps?

Check starting values, the dates included, missing or duplicated activities, training-score inputs and time constants. Match those before comparing the final score.

What is the difference between CTL and ATL?

They summarise load over different timescales. The standard CTL setting is 42 days; ATL uses 7 and responds faster to recent changes. TrainingPeaks calculates a day’s TSB from the previous day’s CTL minus ATL.