Watts Doc #8: FTP vs Critical Power

FTP and Critical Power in theory measure the highest power output before significant fatigue occurs. We look at whether this is true, and the pros and cons of using FTP and CP.

Show Notes
Maximal lactate steady state, respiratory compensation threshold and critical power
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12736836

Original Monod and Scherrer CP paper
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232506745_The_work_capacity_of_synergic_muscle_group

Critical power hyperbola (purple) deliberately set to asymptote = FTP. This makes the CP model fit less well in the 30-3000 second range. Mean maximal power curve (yellow) shows fatigue happening quickly over FTP and slowly under FTP.

Mean maximal work curve for an athlete. Linear model fit for 25-600 seconds before diversion. CP overestimates FTP by ~50w.

Mean maximal work curve for another athlete. Linear model fit for 32-720 seconds. CP overestimates FTP by ~10w.