Watt Matters Podcast

Pinnacle Performance x NOCSportsScience

All things cycling, coaching, and sport science, presented by Pinnacle Performance Cycling Coaching, and NOC Sports Science. Watt Matters addresses all aspects of sports performance — mixing credible insights with light hearted discussion, special guests, and stories from inside the sport.

  1. 4d ago

    TrainingPeaks | Watt Matters

    In this episode of the Watt Matters Podcast, Nick, Dylan and Jack take a closer look at some of the most commonly used metrics in TrainingPeaks, how we use them in our day-to-day coaching, and where their limitations lie. We unpack metrics including Normalised Power, TSS, Intensity Factor, aerobic decoupling and the Performance Management Chart, looking at how they're calculated, what they tell us about an athlete's training, and how we interpret them in practice. We also discuss the benefits and limitations of these metrics when monitoring training load, tracking performance and making coaching decisions, and why understanding the context behind the numbers is so important. A practical look at how we use training data to guide our coaching, without relying on individual metrics to tell the whole story. Watch on YouTube 📺Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 🎧 @wattmatterspodcast@nocsportsscience | @pinnacleperformancecc www.pinnacleperformancecc.com www.nocsportscience.com Chapters 00:00 - Introduction00:19 - Welcome & Today's Topic02:33 - Normalised Power Explained07:24 - TSS & Training Load15:24 - ATL, TSB & Ramp Rates19:57 - Intensity Factor22:12 - Kilojoules24:31 - Aerobic Decoupling27:02 - Variability Index29:55 - Performance Management Chart

    TrainingPeaks | Watt Matters

  2. Oct 18

    Season Reflections | Watt Matters

    Episode 15 - Reflecting on the 2026 Season 🎙️ With the 2026 racing season coming to an end and most of our athletes moving into their off-season, Nick, Dylan and Jack sit down to reflect on the year that's been and some of the biggest lessons we've taken away as coaches. We discuss what we've learnt from working with athletes across different levels of the sport, the importance of face-to-face coaching and building relationships, and how the demands of racing in Australia compare to Europe. We also dive into athlete development pathways, the importance of long-term training and periodisation, and how we can better prepare young riders for the progression from junior racing through to the professional ranks. A chance to reflect on what worked, what we've learnt, and what we want to continue building into our coaching practices heading into 2027. Watch on YouTube 📺Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 🎧 @wattmatterspodcast@nocsportsscience | @pinnacleperformancecc www.pinnacleperformancecc.com www.nocsportscience.com Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Episode Overview00:19 - Season Updates and Personal Highlights02:30 - Athlete Performance and Racing Reflections10:03 - Key Coaching Lessons from 202619:55 - Athlete Autonomy and Understanding Training30:06 - Building Relationships and Face-to-Face Coaching39:50 - Australian vs European Racing Demands49:52 - Junior Pathways and Long-Term Athlete Development

    Season Reflections | Watt Matters

  3. Sep 3

    Sarah Gigante | Watt Matters

    Sarah Gigante - From Juniors to the WorldTour 🎙️ In this episode of the Watt Matters Podcast, we sit down with Sarah Gigante to look back at her coaching journey with Pinnacle Performance - from her early years as a developing junior through to racing at WorldTour level. We unpack how Sarah trained and developed early in her career, how that approach evolved as the demands of racing changed, and the progression towards some of her biggest performances at Nationals, Tour Down Under and the Giro. We also talk through the setbacks Sarah has faced along the way, including iliac artery endofibrosis and her current injury, and how she has approached the process of rebuilding and returning to racing each time. A look behind the scenes at the training, development and challenges across Sarah's journey from junior racing to the WorldTour. Watch on YouTube 📺Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 🎧 @wattmatterspodcast@nocsportsscience | @pinnacleperformancecc https://www.pinnacleperformancecc.com/ https://nocsportsscience.com/ Chapters 00:00 - Introduction02:26 - Current Update on Sarah's Injury09:32 - Early Coaching20:33 - Early Career Training Approach28:19 - Building Towards TDU & Nationals34:03 - First Year with AG Insurance-Soudal37:06 - Overcoming Iliac Artery Endofibrosis39:53 - Building Towards the Giro

    Sarah Gigante | Watt Matters

  4. Aug 21

    Alice Maggio: Female Endurance Physiology & Understanding RED-S | Watt Matters

    In Episode 12, we sit down in Italy with sport scientist, coach, and friend of the podcast, Alice Maggio 🔥. A great episode where we discuss female endurance physiology, the menstrual cycle, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), and how a better understanding of these areas as athletes and coaches can promote better athlete health and cycling performance 📈. Alice takes us through her journey into sport science and the historical gap in research surrounding female endurance athletes, before breaking down the menstrual cycle, how it relates to training and performance, and why individual context matters when interpreting it. We discuss the importance of tracking the menstrual cycle and communication between athletes and coaches, before exploring what Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) can look like in both women and men. We dive into how low energy availability can affect health and performance, what athletes and coaches should look out for, and the process of returning to a healthy state. A really interesting conversation around physiology, athlete health, communication, and performance, with plenty to take away for both male and female athletes and coaches. Watch on YouTube 📺 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 🎧 @wattmatterspodcast @pinnacleperformancecc | @nocsportsscience https://www.pinnacleperformancecc.com/ https://nocsportsscience.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:55 Alice’s Journey Into Sport Science 06:00 The Gap in Studying Female Endurance Physiology 09:24 How Does the Menstrual Cycle Work? 14:30 Training in Relation to the Menstrual Cycle 20:28 Communicating With Coaches 23:50 The Impact of Contraceptives 28:30 The Importance of Tracking a Menstrual Cycle 32:00 Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport for Men and Women 42:30 Wrap Up & Final Advice

    Alice Maggio: Female Endurance Physiology & Understanding RED-S | Watt Matters

  5. Jul 11

    Listener Coaching Questions Q+A | Watt Matters

    Episode 11 - Coaching Questions Q+A 🎙️ Something different for this episode - we sit down and answer your topic requests! In Episode 11 of the Watt Matters Podcast, we answer your Instagram questions covering everything from training and physiology to coaching, racing, and general performance. We discuss heat training, managing injuries and setbacks, the biggest mistakes we see from self-coached athletes, how we monitor adaptation to training, the differences in programming for different rider profiles and more. We discuss "ideal" training block length, training in the aero position, bunch rides, gym work throughout the season, periodising the Australian and European racing calendars, durability, and where anaerobic training fits into an endurance program. Thanks to everyone who sent in a question and topic request. While we will look to do deeper episodes on some of these topics, we'll also be doing more of these. Get in touch at @wattmatterspodcast. Watch on YouTube 📺 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 🎧 @wattmatterspodcast @pinnacleperformancecc | @nocsportsscience Chapters 00:00 – Introduction02:09 – What Is, and How To Do Heat Training?07:10 – The Mental Side of Dealing With Injuries & Setbacks11:15 – Common Issues We See With Self-Coached Athletes14:11 – How Do You Measure Adaptation to Training?18:17 – Training Differences Between Rider Profiles24:20 – How Long Should a Training Block Be?25:55 – What's the Ideal Build-Up for an Event?27:00 – Training in the Aero Position31:15 – Bunch Rides in Training33:58 – Gym Work: Pre-Season vs In-Season36:15 – Australian vs European Racing Calendar: How Do You Periodise It?42:48 – Durability and Why It Matters48:20 – Anaerobic Training50:00 – Wrap Up

    Listener Coaching Questions Q+A | Watt Matters

  6. Jun 11

    VO2 Max Training | Watt Matters

    VO2 Max Training 🎙️In this episode of the Watt Matters Podcast, we unpack VO2 Max training - what VO2 Max actually is, how we test it, and how we prescribe training to improve it 📈. We discuss why MAP can be a poor tool for prescribing VO2 Max intervals, how Critical Power and W′ can be used in relation to VO2 Max training, and the types of sessions we use to target VO2 Max adaptations 🎯 We also touch on why improving VO2 Max isn’t just about doing high intensity intervals, and how other phases of training can still contribute to its development through broader aerobic adaptations. Watch on YouTube 📺Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 🎧 @wattmatterspodcast@nocsportsscience | @pinnacleperformanceccChapters00:00 - Introduction01:44 - What Is VO2 Max?08:59 - How to Test VO2 Max15:54 - Differences and Practical Implications of MAP & VO2 Max19:56 - Specific Sessions35:00 - VO2 Max Training Blocks and Wrap Up

    VO2 Max Training | Watt Matters

  7. Jun 1

    Tara Neyland: A Journey Into Para-Sport | Watt Matters

    Tara Neyland: A Journey Into Para-Sport | Watt MattersIn Episode 9, we sit down with Tara Neyland to discuss her journey into para-sport, the challenges that have come with it, and the lessons she’s learning along the way 🎙️Tara takes us through her journey from a lifelong involvement in sport, to being diagnosed with Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy, and the challenging transition into para-sport that followed.While Tara is now a multiple World Champion - claiming titles at the Road and Track World Championships in the road race, time trial, elimination race, scratch race and kilo during an incredible 2025 season - this episode is about far more than medals 🥇. We dive into the emotional realities of classification, identity, self-discovery, resilience, and the mental challenges that came with accepting a new sporting pathway. Tara speaks openly about the highs and lows of her journey, the process of learning track cycling from scratch, and how she is developing the mindset needed to perform on the world stage while managing the ongoing challenges of FSHD. We also explore the realities of life as a para-athlete, misconceptions surrounding para-sport, Tara’s mission within the sport, and the lessons she’s learned throughout her journey.This is an honest and important conversation that offers a genuine insight into life as an elite para-athlete. Whether you’re involved in cycling, sport, or simply interested in stories of resilience and human performance, there is something valuable to take away from Tara’s experience.Watch on YouTube 📺Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 🎧@wattmatterspodcast@nocsportsscience | @pinnacleperformancecchttps://www.pinnacleperformancecc.com/https://nocsportsscience.com/CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction06:13 Tara’s Youth / Journey Into Sport10:11 Tara’s Diagnosis of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD)14:00 Classification Process in Para-Sport17:50 Mental Challenges of Transitioning Into Para-Sport32:15 Learning Track Cycling From Scratch44:11 2025 Race Preparation & Focusing on the Controllable49:45 The Positive and Negative Emotions of Winning World Championships56:10 The Future for Tara / 2026 Racing58:00 Listener Questions

    Tara Neyland: A Journey Into Para-Sport | Watt Matters

  8. May 25

    Threshold Training | Watt Matters

    Threshold Training | Watt Matters In this episode of the Watt Matters Podcast, we take a deep dive into one of the most talked about concepts in endurance performance  - threshold training. We discuss the physiology behind what “threshold” actually is, why it matters in cycling performance, and how coaches and athletes attempt to identify and train it in the real world. We also dive into the training sessions we use to improve threshold, and the rationale behind how and why they are prescribed. The conversation explores the different ways threshold can be tested, both in the lab and out in the field, and why these methods can often produce different results depending on how they are measured. We talk through why understanding those differences matters, how test interpretation influences training prescription, and why threshold should always be viewed with context rather than treated as a single fixed number. A practical and applied conversation around one of the foundations of endurance coaching and performance. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:57 What Is Threshold? 07:12 Testing Methods for Threshold 17:16 Field Testing and Practical Applications 23:32 Understanding Critical Power and W Prime 26:39 Individualised Training Prescription 31:02 The Importance of Threshold Training 35:44 Riding by Feel vs. Power Metrics Watch on YouTube 📺Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 🎧 @wattmatterspodcast@nocsportsscience | @pinnacleperformancecc https://www.pinnacleperformancecc.com/

    Threshold Training | Watt Matters
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About

All things cycling, coaching, and sport science, presented by Pinnacle Performance Cycling Coaching, and NOC Sports Science. Watt Matters addresses all aspects of sports performance — mixing credible insights with light hearted discussion, special guests, and stories from inside the sport.

Information

  • Creator
    Pinnacle Performance x NOCSportsScience
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Pinnacle Performance x NOCSportsScience
  • Show Website
    Watt Matters Podcast

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