True, but even there, for the pros, there are significant benefits to riding in a line at the minimum separation, so I’d expect some FTP-type efforts to join the line and stay within? But you’re right - so are there examples of reverse periodisation for ironman pros?
Reviving this topic for opinions or suggestions for actual plan over winter indoor period.
Background: over last 4-5 years have been focusing on cycling only, with forever base loop with 1-2 higher intensity sessions per week, volume 14-18h/w, during summer for 2-3 months 20-30h/w. As to expect, FTP is moderate and has stagnated but TTE is pretty good.
During coming indoor season planning to combine low intensity rowerg/skierg (3x60-90min/week) with high intensity sessions on bike (also 3x60-90min/week).
I have still roughly 1 month to finish Sweetspot block outdoors before weather goes too bad (likely progressing to SS/1x120 or 1x150), so we can consider “typical base” good before higher intensity stuff 
Mostly copying from Sustainable training by Space Cycles and stretching it until next outdoor season, what about this approach:
- 2 weeks sprint training (5-6x20sec, plenty recovery between)
- 2 weeks on/off VO2max (30/30, 40/20)
- 1 week recovery
- 2 weeks traditional VO2max (7x3, 4x5)
- 1 week recovery
- 2 weeks long suprathreshold (102-105%, 4x8 → 4x12)
- 1 week recovery
- 3 weeks threshold (98%) + O/U (3x2min 90%/110%)
- 1 week recovery
- 3 weeks threshold (98%) 4x10 → 4x15, 1x60?, not sure about progression, at this point don’t care much about TTE yet)
- 1 week recovery
- and around March/April, weather is hopefully good enough, will switch fully back to cycling again with 2 hard days/week (VO2max/4x5 + SS), remaining available time filled with low Z2)
As for specific workouts, i’ll choose whatever from TR catalogue at appropriate progression level.
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