Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad podcast

June 18, 2026 WHY LONG RIDES WON’T SAVE YOUR RACE | Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast 590

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❤️ Donate to Coach Jonathan’s Leadville Fundraiser: https://give.ltfoundation.org/leejonathan

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// TOPICS COVERED

(00:00:00) Welcome! Why Long Rides May Not Build Long Race Fitness

(00:00:54) TrainerRoad AI Updates and Future FTP Prediction Fixes

(00:05:02) Why Outdoor Workouts Can Affect AI FTP Detection

(00:08:29) How to Answer Post-Workout Surveys Accurately

(00:12:55) Why You Shouldn’t “Game” TrainerRoad AI

(00:17:47) Upcoming AI Workout Improvements

(00:19:36) Jonathan’s Lost and Found Gravel Race Recap

(00:21:05) Why Separate Starts Improve Gravel Racing

(00:23:28) Gravel Race Tactics: Climbing, Corners, and Descending

(00:27:15) Training Power on Flats vs. Climbs

(00:30:16) Heat Training for Hot Gravel Races

(00:32:44) Reading Competitors’ Nutrition and Hydration

(00:35:13) Did Jonathan Break the Race Rules?

(00:39:01) SRAM Transmission Issues on Rough Gravel

(00:45:08) Listener Question: Are Long Rides Necessary for Leadville?

(00:51:39) Why FTP Matters More Than Durability for Long Races

(00:57:08) Leadville Nutrition: Training Your Gut for Race Day

(01:00:31) Jonathan’s Leadville Sub-7 Training Update

(01:06:39) Leadville Bike Setup, Tires, Gearing, and Kit

(01:13:39) Listener Question: Can Swimming Improve Cycling Fitness?

(01:23:47) World Cup Picks and Final Thoughts

In this episode, Nate Pearson and Coach Jonathan Lee dig into why long rides are not always the best way to prepare for long races like Leadville, and why raising FTP, protecting key workouts, and practicing race nutrition can matter more than stacking huge endurance days. They cover TrainerRoad AI updates, including outside workout improvements, more precise post-workout feedback, dynamic workout adjustments, and why athletes should answer surveys honestly instead of trying to “game” the system. Coach Jonathan also recaps his Lost and Found Gravel race, including heat training, pacing, equipment lessons, possible disqualification from outside feeds, and how he’s refining his Leadville 100 MTB strategy with smarter hydration, carbohydrate intake, caffeine, altitude prep, and bike setup. The episode wraps with a look at whether swimming can improve cycling performance, how CO2 tolerance and extra aerobic work might help with hard group ride efforts, plus a quick World Cup discussion.

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