# FTP smart trainer vs FTP during a race

**URL:** <https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/ftp-smart-trainer-vs-ftp-during-a-race/72431>\
**Category:** Training\
**Created:** [May 9, 2022, 12:34pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/ftp-smart-trainer-vs-ftp-during-a-race/72431 "2022-05-09T12:34:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Fabio\_Sgambati](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/fabio_sgambati/32/12908_2.png) [@Fabio\_Sgambati](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Fabio_Sgambati)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 12:34pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/ftp-smart-trainer-vs-ftp-during-a-race/72431/1 "2022-05-09T12:34:50Z")

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hi my FTP is 244 (one month ago 252)  
yesterday i had a MTB race ( 50 km 1200m) my normalized power was 256, medium power 226, i have finished in 3 hours  
is correct my FTP, i have to change it?  
i have already tested my power meter and is like my smart trainer, the same power  
thx

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**Author:** ![HLaB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/hlab/32/60448_2.png) [@HLaB](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/HLaB)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 12:57pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/ftp-smart-trainer-vs-ftp-during-a-race/72431/2 "2022-05-09T12:57:14Z")

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Nope its fine and you don’t need to change it, you’ll find Gazillions of threads on the subject of indoors v outdoors FTP, day to day variance etc and the FTP you train to.

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**Author:** ![wattage\_narco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@wattage\_narco](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/wattage_narco)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 1:16pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/ftp-smart-trainer-vs-ftp-during-a-race/72431/3 "2022-05-09T13:16:30Z")

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So you did a 3 hour race @ ~93% of your (244W) FTP. You are a sweetspot beast, or maybe FTP set too low. Even with FTP of 252 that’s 3hr @ 89%.

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**Author:** ![Vernix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/vernix/32/96082_2.png) [@Vernix](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Vernix)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/ftp-smart-trainer-vs-ftp-during-a-race/72431/4 "2022-05-09T15:39:25Z")

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Look at your NP for 1 hour in your race, that’s a good ballpark of your real FTP.

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**Author:** ![jarsson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/jarsson/32/69117_2.png) [@jarsson](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/jarsson)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/ftp-smart-trainer-vs-ftp-during-a-race/72431/5 "2022-05-09T19:11:49Z")

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No it’s not. FTP is steady power, not NP from the race. If the NP is a lot over your FTP this should be an indiction that your FTP should be tested. You can do some heavy sprints and that will give you IF over 1.0 in an hour but this is not indication of your FTP.

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**Author:** ![Vernix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/vernix/32/96082_2.png) [@Vernix](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Vernix)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 7:16pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/ftp-smart-trainer-vs-ftp-during-a-race/72431/6 "2022-05-09T19:16:25Z")

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I have heard a couple of good coaches use this as a measure to estimate FTP from races. I’m sure the usual caveats regarding athlete type apply.

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**Author:** ![kurt.braeckel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/kurt.braeckel/32/116719_2.png) [@kurt.braeckel](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/kurt.braeckel)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2022, 7:16pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/ftp-smart-trainer-vs-ftp-during-a-race/72431/7 "2022-05-09T19:16:30Z")

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> [@Vernix](#):
>
> Look at your NP for 1 hour in your race, that’s a good ballpark of your real FTP.

This is entirely dependent on the type of race, course, and type of effort.

For a 1 hour Zwift race, it can be good - you’re on the gas most of the time in Zwift for a bunch of different reasons, and Zwift races tend to be less punchy than out on the road. 1 hour TT, 1 hour hill climb… sure.

1 hour crit? 1 hour MTB race? No.

For this particular effort? Absolutely not.
