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CoachingDIAGNOSIS

WHY AM I NOT GETTING FASTER AT CYCLING?

You're training consistently but your FTP hasn't moved in months. Group rides feel the same. Race results are stagnant. You're working hard — maybe harder than ever — and nothing changes.

THE SHORT ANSWER

Most often, this is because no structured plan — riding hard without intention. The fix: get structured — follow a plan with clear intensity targets.

WHY THIS HAPPENS

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No structured plan — riding hard without intention

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Too much time in the grey zone (Zone 3) — not easy enough or hard enough

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Insufficient recovery — stacking fatigue without adaptation

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Nutrition misalignment — under-fuelling hard sessions

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No periodisation — same training month after month

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Training alone without accountability or external review

EXPERT EVIDENCE

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

Stephen BarrettHead coach, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale (UCI WorldTour)

Barrett's read on stalled amateurs is that they train too hard on easy days and not hard enough on hard ones, then skip the recovery that lets adaptation happen. The riders who improve most aren't the ones with the biggest engine — they're the ones who test honestly and build the aerobic base before chasing the ceiling.

Hear it: World Tour Cycling Coach on What FTP Misses | Roadman Cycling