James Spragg, PhD | EP#425

James Spragg, PhD, is a cycling coach at the Tudor Pro Cycling Team and performance consultant. His PhD research focused on durability, which is the main topic of today's interview.          IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT: -The concept of durability  -The relationship between training characteristics and durability in cycling -The relationship between physiological measures and durability in cycling -The type of intensity, not just the amount of work done, impacts the downward shift in power profile  -Critical Power (or Critical Speed) is a more comprehensive marker of performance physiology than VO2max -Listener questions: how to know when to work on what part of the power-duration curve and more   SHOWNOTES: https://scientifictriathlon.com/tts425/   SCIENTIFIC TRIATHLON AND THAT TRIATHLON SHOW WEBPAGE: www.scientifictriathlon.com/podcast/   SPONSORS: Precision Fuel & Hydration help athletes personalise their hydration and fueling strategies for training and racing. Use the free Fuel & Hydration Planner to get personalised plan for your carbohydrate, sodium and fluid intake in your next event. That Triathlon Show listeners get 15% off their first order of fuel and electrolyte products. Simply use this link and the discount will be auto-applied at the checkout.   ZEN8 - The ZEN8 Indoor Swim Trainer allows you to improve technique, power, and swim training consistency. You can target specific aspects of your stroke, like catch and pull-through, work on core activation and body position, and make sure you stay consistent in your swim training even when you don't have time to go to the pool. Try the Zen8 risk-free for 30 days, and get 20% off your first order on zen8swimtrainer.com/tts.   LINKS AND RESOURCES: James' Twitter, website and Research Gate Training talk with cycling coach James Spragg | EP#251 The relationship between training characteristics and durability in professional cyclists across a competitive season - Spragg et al. 2022 The Relationship between Physiological Characteristics and Durability in Male Professional Cyclists - Spragg et al. 2022 Viewpoint: Using VO2max as a marker of training status in athletes - can we do better? - Podlogar et al. 2022 The intensity rather than the quantity of prior work determines the subsequent downward shift in the power duration relationship in professional cyclists - Spragg et al. 2024 (in review) Intensity, volume, rest, nutrition, coaching and triathlon myth-busting with Dr. Philip Skiba | EP#173 Scientific Training for Endurance Athletes with Dr. Philip Skiba | EP#311 Power profiling, critical power, and U23 cycling research with Peter Leo | EP#319 Carbohydrates – science and practice with Tim Podlogar, PhD | EP#354   RATE AND REVIEW: If you enjoy the show, please help me out by subscribing, rating and reviewing: www.scientifictriathlon.com/rate/   CONTACT: Want to send feedback, questions or just chat? Email me at mikael@scientifictriathlon.com or connect on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.

Om Podcasten

That Triathlon Show is the podcast for triathletes of all levels who want to train smarter and race faster. With over 600 episodes and millions of downloads since 2017, this show cuts through the noise and misinformation, delivering practical, no-nonsense advice rooted in both the art and science of training and performance. The podcast features in-depth interviews with the world’s best coaches, top sports scientists, and elite athletes. Each episode dives into the nuances of training methodology, performance optimization, and race-day execution, providing insights you can apply right away. Whether you're preparing for a supersprint or an Ironman, or focusing on a single sport like swimming, cycling, or running, you'll find expert guidance and relevant content here. The podcast is hosted by Mikael Eriksson, a former engineer now coaching professional and age-group athletes. Mikael is a Level III certified coach with over a decade of experience in coaching. Join a global community of dedicated triathletes and take your performance to the next level. Learn more at www.scientifictriathlon.com/podcast.