CTL profiling?

NomadVW said:

I got to talking to one of the local riders today about training with power and the load of acronyms I've learned over the last two months. We talked quite a bit about each of the parts of the "Coggan System" and what they mean and how I am applying them.

My buddy asked me a question that I thought was interesting. We profile strength on the bike essentially by FTP.

As a comparison, does CTL allow us to gauge how one rider is doing vs the next guy? Would a rider with a higher CTL essentially be a stronger rider?

Am I understanding CTL right when I make the conclusion that a higher CTL basically means:

You can suffer through a greater percentage of FTP for a greater amount of time. Therefore, a person with a higher CTL than another rider should be able to withstand a higher percentage of THEIR FTP for a greater period of time, than that next rider. Granted, if one rider's FTP is 450 and the other's is 250, lasting longer at 220 isn't going to help the second guy win a race. But for racers with essentially identical FTP's, would CTL be a comparative measure?

I don't think that CTL is comparable among individuals.

I think it is a very personal number that will predict how fit you are compared to where you were at a different time of the season.

This is how I use the number.

Jim

NomadVW said:

We profile strength on the bike essentially by FTP.

Well maybe you do, but I rely on power profiling. 😉

NomadVW said:

As a comparison, does CTL allow us to gauge how one rider is doing vs the next guy? Would a rider with a higher CTL essentially be a stronger rider?

Am I understanding CTL right when I make the conclusion that a higher CTL basically means:

You can suffer through a greater percentage of FTP for a greater amount of time. Therefore, a person with a higher CTL than another rider should be able to withstand a higher percentage of THEIR FTP for a greater period of time, than that next rider. Granted, if one rider's FTP is 450 and the other's is 250, lasting longer at 220 isn't going to help the second guy win a race. But for racers with essentially identical FTP's, would CTL be a comparative measure?

Provided that you do enough of the right kind of training, it is certainly possible to flatten the terminal portion of the power-duration relationship, which is really what you're asking. However, such changes are rather subtle compared to the extent to which it is possible to elevate the entire curve. Moreover, while CTL is designed to aid in comparison of training load across individuals, there are numerous other factors (e.g., genetics, habitual diet) that influence one's stamina. Thus, I'd be hesitant to conclude that just because one person is carrying a higher training load than another that they automatically have an advantage in longer races.