# Getting dropped **URL:** \ **Category:** Training\ **Created:** [December 9, 2021, 4:51am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241 "2021-12-09T04:51:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PaulMarais](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/paulmarais/32/86003_2.png) [@PaulMarais](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/PaulMarais)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 4:51am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/1 "2021-12-09T04:51:56Z")
Hi all I keep getting dropped from the bunch on the climbs. In every rode race. What sort of weight/power ratio should I aim for in order to achieve not getting dropped. Thank you Paul ---
**Author:** ![RexSkeleton](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rexskeleton/32/63947_2.png) [@RexSkeleton](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/RexSkeleton)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 5:16am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/2 "2021-12-09T05:16:36Z")
This is a question that’s so vague that it’s not possible to give you a satisfying answer. You could be going too hard before the climbs. They could just be stronger than you are and you need to be stronger. You could be carrying excess weight. There are many variables. ---
**Author:** ![PaulMarais](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/paulmarais/32/86003_2.png) [@PaulMarais](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/PaulMarais)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 6:02am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/3 "2021-12-09T06:02:10Z")
Sure it’s a bit vague but in the reality this is the same bunch of peeps I race woth consistently and am able to stay in the bunch go to the front. Hang easily on small punching hills and even on a rolling course. As soon as the climb starts poof put the back. So I imagine my watts/kg are incorrect. What is a decent number for an average amateur cyclist to aim for ? ---
**Author:** ![d\_diston](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/d_diston/32/10140_2.png) [@d\_diston](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/d_diston)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 6:03am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/4 "2021-12-09T06:03:49Z")
> [@PaulMarais](#): > > the climb How long are the climbs you’re considering? ---
**Author:** ![PaulMarais](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/paulmarais/32/86003_2.png) [@PaulMarais](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/PaulMarais)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 6:18am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/5 "2021-12-09T06:18:27Z")
The climbs are typically from 3 to 6 mins ---
**Author:** ![OreoCookie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/oreocookie/32/8298_2.png) [@OreoCookie](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/OreoCookie)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 6:19am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/6 "2021-12-09T06:19:40Z")
There is no good answer, because it very much depends on how strong your competitors (and riding buddies on group rides) are. What category are you talking about? Where are you in terms of power and W/kg? ---
**Author:** ![PaulMarais](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/paulmarais/32/86003_2.png) [@PaulMarais](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/PaulMarais)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 6:20am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/7 "2021-12-09T06:20:31Z")
i am slightly heaver rider at 78kg and ftp 275 so about 3.5watts per kg ---
**Author:** ![PaulMarais](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/paulmarais/32/86003_2.png) [@PaulMarais](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/PaulMarais)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 6:24am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/8 "2021-12-09T06:24:24Z")
I ride in CAT2 most of the time ---
**Author:** ![OreoCookie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/oreocookie/32/8298_2.png) [@OreoCookie](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/OreoCookie)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 6:24am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/9 "2021-12-09T06:24:30Z")
What about your competitors? What country and category are they in? (E. g. in Japan where I live, at 3.5 W/kg you’d probably DNF in all/most races of the lowest amateur class, E3. On the other hand, in the US you should be able to compete in Cat 5.) ---
**Author:** ![PaulMarais](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/paulmarais/32/86003_2.png) [@PaulMarais](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/PaulMarais)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 6:27am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/10 "2021-12-09T06:27:52Z")
i am in South Africa, so wow I’m that bad lol. that makes for some drastic changes, ---
**Author:** ![AdamB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/adamb/32/12908_2.png) [@AdamB](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/AdamB)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 7:09am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/11 "2021-12-09T07:09:08Z")
Not sure its that drastic…how old are you? When you say climbs - how long are they typically? From what you have said it sounds like you’re a punchy rider, maybe you need to work on your sustained power… ---
**Author:** ![PaulMarais](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/paulmarais/32/86003_2.png) [@PaulMarais](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/PaulMarais)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 7:47am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/12 "2021-12-09T07:47:17Z")
thanks addam, yes i would say i am a very punchy rider.i believe i put out some big power numbers when needed. to get back on to a group or make an attack etc but on any climb longer that 1 min, i go from the front slowly backwards till everyone in the group passes me. and i have to claw my way back to the group, in most cases not able to get back on. ---
**Author:** ![PaulMarais](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/paulmarais/32/86003_2.png) [@PaulMarais](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/PaulMarais)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 7:47am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/13 "2021-12-09T07:47:50Z")
i am 41 years old 78kg and an ftp about 280 ---
**Author:** ![OreoCookie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/oreocookie/32/8298_2.png) [@OreoCookie](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/OreoCookie)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 8:07am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/14 "2021-12-09T08:07:54Z")
> [@PaulMarais](#): > > I ride in CAT2 most of the time Then I am not surprised. Aren’t there any lower categories where you live? Or do the races you participate in have Cat 1/2/3 starts? If I were you I’d compete in a category where you can actually race beginning-to-end and compete. ---
**Author:** ![AdamB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/adamb/32/12908_2.png) [@AdamB](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/AdamB)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 8:15am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/15 "2021-12-09T08:15:27Z")
> [@PaulMarais](#): > > i am 41 years old 78kg and an ftp about > 280 That’s not all bad…if it were me I would contemplate a lower grade while I worked on Vo2 intervals (3, 4 and 5 mins). I’d do these on a hill too as opposed to on a trainer. TR Outside workouts are gold. Not knowing your body type or height, you might also be able to shed a few kg’s with healthy eating which will also help your cause. ---
**Author:** ![PaulMarais](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/paulmarais/32/86003_2.png) [@PaulMarais](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/PaulMarais)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 8:23am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/16 "2021-12-09T08:23:27Z")
Yes sir, cat 1,2,3 only i think i am stuck somewhere between 2 an 3 at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![PaulMarais](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/paulmarais/32/86003_2.png) [@PaulMarais](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/PaulMarais)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 8:24am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/17 "2021-12-09T08:24:54Z")
yes i agree and thank you for your assistance ---
**Author:** ![d\_diston](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/d_diston/32/10140_2.png) [@d\_diston](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/d_diston)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 10:31am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/18 "2021-12-09T10:31:32Z")
Build a big aerobic capacity, then sprinkle on a bit of anaerobic work and you’ll be done! What’s your fractional utilisation look like? If you provide 5min power number, it can be worked out (and indicate where you might best focus training). FTP/5min \* 100 = fractional utilisation ---
**Author:** ![PaulMarais](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/paulmarais/32/86003_2.png) [@PaulMarais](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/PaulMarais)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 10:46am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/19 "2021-12-09T10:46:23Z")
i have never heard of such a thing… are you saying my best power output for 5 mins? ---
**Author:** ![d\_diston](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/d_diston/32/10140_2.png) [@d\_diston](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/d_diston)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2021, 10:59am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241/20 "2021-12-09T10:59:12Z")
> [@Fractional Utilization of VO2 Max](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/fractional-utilization-of-vo2-max/8629): > > In podcast #189 Chad discusses fractional utilization to try and help to determine whether you should focus more on VO2 intervals versus FTP intervals. I found it a little confusing. Can anyone give me an idiots guide to this [Next page](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/getting-dropped/66241.md?page=2)