Team Polti Kometa rider Germán Gómez and coach Carlos Barredo on the value of TrainingPeaks and training

There has been an impressive evolution of training methods, preparation and nutrition, data analysis and the ability to take advantage of remote work in addition to in-person work. These advanced and well-established realities have reinforced Team Polti Kometa‘s steadfast allyship with TrainingPeaks.

With the integration demands of today’s technology and other software used in contemporary cycling, every key parameter for training is available in the comprehensive TrainingPeaks platform, even when thousands of kilometers away. A coach prescribes a training plan, and a nutritionist a diet plan; the cyclist combines them and sets off on his sessions, feeling reassured and confident in the comprehensive support provided by TrainingPeaks.

TrainingPeaks is a perfect example of how a tool can bridge any distance. Take the case of Germán Gómez, Colombian rider for Polti Kometa who can seamlessly carry out his activities with coaches and teammates, no matter where they are in the world. “TrainingPeaks is extremely important for our daily work,” explains the 23-year-old neoprofessional.

“It’s one of the applications we use the most, as it shows us the entire training plan, the day-to-day schedule, any files concerning gym workouts or cycling routines, all the way down to a fundamental element like the nutrition plan. We consult it constantly, allowing us to be fully updated on our physical condition and know if we are at our peak or if something is still missing. It’s an integral and indispensable part of our preparation!” 

Having access anywhere to analyze workouts or other essential data that reveals a cyclist’s athletic status helps prepare the entire team to compete in the world’s biggest races.

“One of the data points I pay the most attention to is the RPE scale, which is the subjective perception of effort in relation to the actual intensity. TrainingPeaks shows all this, and much more, in a very clear graphical format. I like the graphs that allow you to analyze the power or effort throughout the workout or in segments that interest us the most,” Gómez adds.

For Polti Kometa’s coach Carlos Barredo. TrainingPeaks allows for the critical examination of every rider’s efforts on the bike. Whether it’s in training sessions or race conditions, having the ability to break down data for a team of riders needs to be efficient and functional. “In the morning, we evaluate metrics indicating how a rider woke up and the training needs so we can adjust sessions for the best training results.” 

With the team spread across the globe, the entire coaching staff can compare rider session goals with the resulting metrics, especially in terms of volume and intensity, from any location. “In specific workouts, it’s crucial that the work done conforms to what the coach plans to achieve performance gains. A key example is that there’s no deviation of the heart rate from the required power. The intensity distribution by power zones dashboard is one I prefer to analyze precisely because it gives a very clear idea of the correspondence between what I had in mind and what the rider could produce,” Barredo explained.

“You have to cross-reference internal load indicators (such as heart rate) and external load indicators (such as power) with the athlete’s feelings,” says Barredo. “My job is not only to organize sessions but also to conduct proper analyses and maintain good contact with the rider, showing convincingly the need to work on certain sub-capacities at specific times to improve and reach goals.” The coach’s role is crucial in interpreting and utilizing the data provided by TrainingPeaks to make informed decisions about the training plan. These interactions, feedback and motivation must be carried out consistently, just like workout prescriptions. This ease of remote coaching must complement essential in-person time like Oliva winter camps and Bormio summer camp. These situations allow a coach to observe body language and attitude live.

“A gesture can be worth more than any phone comment or message, also because there are riders with such awareness and self-analysis capacity that you can trust them 100% while others may be more influenced by morale and momentary feelings,” Barredo says. “Face-to-face interaction is necessary to ensure that you’re going in the right direction or if anything needs to be revised. Whatever the context and situation, however, very little could be done without TrainingPeaks!”