EPISODE · Oct 2, 2025 · 1H 7M
THE GRAY ZONE MYTH: MISTAKE OR ADVANTAGE FOR CYCLISTS? | Hannah Otto | Ask a Cycling Coach 553
from Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad · host TrainerRoad
🚀Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 www.TrainerRoad.com🏁 Race with us in the TrainerRoad Throwdown Series!: https://trainerroad.cc/TRrace 🤝Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/TRzwiftclub // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: https://trainerroad.cc/apple2 Spotify: https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2Google Podcasts: https://trainerroad.cc/google// TOPICS COVERED(0:20:11) Is It a Good Idea to Do Sweet Spot Block Training?(0:41:10) Do Pro Cyclists Do Sweet Spot Training?(0:46:53) Why Is the Tempo Zone Ignored?(0:56:42) Managing Your Breath During IntervalsCoach Jonathan and pro rider/coach Hannah Otto discuss why very long pre-race rides often backfire: they boost confidence but overcook athletes, hurting subsequent workouts. Coaches must balance fitness and confidence—save the “touch the fire” effort for race day. They pivot to sweet spot/tempo (“gray zone”) work: sweet spot delivers big aerobic ROI with manageable fatigue, but should be periodized—use it in focused blocks, then progress to threshold, over-unders, and VO₂ to raise FTP. Recovery weeks should be treated as purposeful endurance/foundation weeks (~60% volume), not time off. Pros do use sweet spot and tempo, often inside longer rides or late in sessions for fatigue resistance (sometimes with low-cadence work). For a three-week sweet spot block: fuel high-carb, prioritize sleep, consider strength training, then take a disciplined recovery week before moving up in intensity. Breathing issues at sweet spot are usually focus-related—practice deliberate, rhythmic breathing and use strong exhales to reset. Hannah reflects on placing 12th at Worlds, managing jet lag/logistics stress, rebounding from a subpar race, and looking ahead to Big Sugar.// RESOURCES MENTIONED- Haley’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehannahotto - Sign up for TrainerRoad! https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster- Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub // TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.// HELPFUL LINKS- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: https://trainerroad.cc/3HTFXNi- Watch our latest Cycling Science Explained video now! https://youtu.be/z2HXE1-il_Q - TrainerRoad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/- TrainerRoad Forum: https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE- TrainerRoad on Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad- TrainerRoad on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd- TrainerRoad on X: https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad - Learn more about TrainerRoad: https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur - Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP- Training Blog: https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN
What this episode covers
🚀Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 www.TrainerRoad.com🏁 Race with us in the TrainerRoad Throwdown Series!: https://trainerroad.cc/TRrace 🤝Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/TRzwiftclub // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: https://trainerroad.cc/apple2 Spotify: https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2Google Podcasts: https://trainerroad.cc/google// TOPICS COVERED(0:20:11) Is It a Good Idea to Do Sweet Spot Block Training?(0:41:10) Do Pro Cyclists Do Sweet Spot Training?(0:46:53) Why Is the Tempo Zone Ignored?(0:56:42) Managing Your Breath During IntervalsCoach Jonathan and pro rider/coach Hannah Otto discuss why very long pre-race rides often backfire: they boost confidence but overcook athletes, hurting subsequent workouts. Coaches must balance fitness and confidence—save the “touch the fire” effort for race day. They pivot to sweet spot/tempo (“gray zone”) work: sweet spot delivers big aerobic ROI with manageable fatigue, but should be periodized—use it in focused blocks, then progress to threshold, over-unders, and VO₂ to raise FTP. Recovery weeks should be treated as purposeful endurance/foundation weeks (~60% volume), not time off. Pros do use sweet spot and tempo, often inside longer rides or late in sessions for fatigue resistance (sometimes with low-cadence work). For a three-week sweet spot block: fuel high-carb, prioritize sleep, consider strength training, then take a disciplined recovery week before moving up in intensity. Breathing issues at sweet spot are usually focus-related—practice deliberate, rhythmic breathing and use strong exhales to reset. Hannah reflects on placing 12th at Worlds, managing jet lag/logistics stress, rebounding from a subpar race, and looking ahead to Big Sugar.// RESOURCES MENTIONED- Haley’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehannahotto - Sign up for TrainerRoad! https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster- Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub // TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.// HELPFUL LINKS- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: https://trainerroad.cc/3HTFXNi- Watch our latest Cycling Science Explained video now! https://youtu.be/z2HXE1-il_Q - TrainerRoad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/- TrainerRoad Forum: https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE- TrainerRoad on Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad- TrainerRoad on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd- TrainerRoad on X: https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad - Learn more about TrainerRoad: https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur - Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP- Training Blog: https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN
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THE GRAY ZONE MYTH: MISTAKE OR ADVANTAGE FOR CYCLISTS? | Hannah Otto | Ask a Cycling Coach 553
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