Failing Workouts Consistently after FTP Increase

[Brennus]

See this thread:

It's been a great year but this forum has me thinking about sustainable power...a lot

SUCCESS! After 5 weeks working on extended sessions riding at 80% to 90% of ‘FTP’ I took another ramp test which placed my MAP-based ‘FTP’ at 293W. Two days later I attempted the Hour of Power again. In case you did not follow the thread, I attempted the Hour of Power back in March. At that time my most proximal TR MAP-based ‘FTP’ was 296…determined by ramp test w/in 12 days of the Hour of Power attempt. So, essentially the same MAP-based ‘FTP’ as today. Maybe a little better in March. At…

TR Ramp test is a Maximum Aerobic Power (MAP) test. So all your TR workouts are based on a percentage of a percentage of VO2Max (MAP). Problem is for some riders FTP is 60% of VO2max & for some riders FTP is 85% of MAP. Sometimes a rider’s FTP will be 75% of VO2max & all is well.

A MAP test favors, well, maximum aerobic power. So if your MAP has increased more than your FTP during a block you can get into the situation described in the linked thread. 75% of your MAP is actually 105% to 110% of your FTP. Theshold workouts turn into VO2max workouts. So you can limp along but it’s torture. Worse, that type of workout favors improved VO2max more than improved FTP so your next ramp test is likely to make the problem worse.