Reevaluating goals after a setback

What Training Plan Should I Do?
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Long story short: I had some time out in May/June due to travel/illness and my CTL dropped from 58 to 40, FTP dropped from 250 to 235, my weight went up 10lbs. I’m fully recovered and can train consistently but not sure how best to plan the rest of the year.

Should I:

  • Not focus on racing the rest of the season and spend the time working on base fitness/core strength, skills and weight loss (something like the 10 week strength x 2)
  • Target a race towards the end of the season and do some high intensity interval work to try to train a bit of my top end (Crit intervals plan maybe)
  • Continue racing for experience but go back to SS Part 1 then start offseason training in October.

Goals: My goal this season was to start racing and not get dropped, which became targeting a podium after a few top 10 finishes. Longer term I’d like to get my weight down to around 185lbs and try to hold it there.
Limiters: My weight is a huge factor (220lbs) as most crit courses here in NYC include a short punchy climb which need 500-600W 60sec efforts just to stay with the pack. Cornering, bike skills in general could use some work.

I followed the offseason plan leading into this season and was the fittest I’d probably ever been so I do intend to follow that again, but I have a good 10 weeks or so before I’d have to start that again so want to make the most of that time now that I’m recovered and can train fully again.

Thanks!

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HI Grant -

To solve the weight loss - eat the way we’ve outline in this plan:

For more help than a plan, consider a nutrition consult with Dr. Lauren:

For the rest of this season, I recommend your 2nd bullet point:

  • Target a race towards the end of the season and do some high intensity interval work to try to train a bit of my top end (Crit intervals plan maybe)

and thus the crit intervals plan. And even the crit in season interval plan. You have some time to enjoy your cycling before you head back into off season mode - late September or October.

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Thanks for the advice Frank. I picked up the crit intervals and road racing in season plans earlier this year so will combine those to see out the season.

The winning in the kitchen weight loss plan worked really well for me first time round and took me from 235 lbs to 209 lbs over 8 weeks. Some of the recipes are in my general rotation now (like the sweet and salty brussels bowl) but I’ll get back to following the plan strictly again to get back on track.

Thanks again for the advice!

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