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FTP (Functional Threshold Power)
Rating
FTP (Functional Threshold Power) is the maximum power output in watts a cyclist can sustain on average for about an hour. It's a key fitness indicator in cycling, analogous to the anaerobic threshold (AT) in running.
In detail
FTP is usually measured with a field test (for example, a 20-minute maximal test with a coefficient of 0.95, since holding a true one-hour maximal effort is physically and psychologically hard to sustain for an accurate test). All training power zones are built around FTP — similarly to how HRmax defines heart rate zones.
How to use it
Recalculate your FTP every 6-8 weeks of regular training — an outdated figure makes all zone-based workouts either too easy or too hard relative to your current fitness.