Endurance Unlimited

TrainingPeaks

The training podcast for serious endurance athletes and coaches — powered by TrainingPeaks. Each episode, we dive deep with elite cyclists, runners, triathletes, ultramarathon athletes, and the coaches who train them, pulling out the science, strategy, and real-world insights that actually move the needle on performance. If you're training for your next race — or coaching athletes who are — this is where you come to analyze how you're training. To learn more about how TrainingPeaks can help you achieve your training goals, visit us at trainingpeaks.com.

  1. Fine-Tuning Riders to Peak at The Tour | Koen Pelgrim

    hace 8 h

    Fine-Tuning Riders to Peak at The Tour | Koen Pelgrim

    Go inside the mind of WorldTour coach, Koen Pelgrim, as the episode traces the journey from the physiology lab to the chaos of racing. You’ll get an inside look at what it takes to build a champion—from altitude camps and heat training protocols to how gym and strength work have become non-negotiables for today’s sprinters. The discussion digs deep into balancing “the art and science” of coaching, sharing actionable insights on tapering, team communication, and why trusting data (like heart rate and strain metrics) is key—but personal connection comes first. Key takeaways in this episode: Elite Prep: How sprinters and GC riders train differently for the Tour de France Altitude + Heat: Extend performance gains with modern adaptation strategies Strength & Conditioning: Why gym work is a pillar in today’s cycling programs Data in Action: How daily recovery, RPE, and metrics drive real-time decisions Art vs. Science: Why true coaching blends analytics and human intuition Learn how top coaches prepare elite sprinters for the Tour and use cutting-edge altitude and heat adaptation hacks. Discover proven performance analytics and real athlete-coach conversations that make the difference at the world's biggest races. Chapters: 00:00 – Altitude & Heat Training: Boosting Endurance for the Tour 00:53 – Training Differences: Sprinters vs. GC Riders 01:13 – Meet Koen: Coaching Roots & Early Influence 02:01 – Recent Wins & Prepping for the Tour de France 02:24 – From University Researcher to World Tour Coach 05:16 – Coaching Lessons: Lab to Real-World Application 06:04 – Culture Shift: Structured Plans in Pro Cycling 08:21 – Sprinter Preparation: Specific Workouts & Stage Simulation 09:05 – Altitude Camps for Sprinters: Aerobic & Anaerobic Focus 10:26 – Practicing Lead-Out Trains & Team Dynamics 11:55 – Strength Training: How Gym Work Evolved in Cycling 14:34 – Tapering: Differences for Sprinters and Climbers 16:29 – The Rise of Young Talent: Paul Magnier’s Development 19:32 – Balancing Sprint Power & Classic Ambitions 20:02 – Analyzing Race Data: Daily Effort, Heart Rate, and Recovery 23:43 – Heat Adaptation: Protocols Leading to the Tour 27:47 – Monitoring Subjective Data: Conversations Over Metrics 30:13 – Adaptive Training Plans & Athlete Autonomy 33:33 – Preventing Overtraining: Keeping Riders Controlled 35:08 – Art vs. Science: The Human Side of Coaching 36:43 – Closing Thoughts & Tour de France Preview

    38 min
  2. Multi-Sport Olympian: Her 6-Month Training Gamble | Anna Gibson

    3 jun

    Multi-Sport Olympian: Her 6-Month Training Gamble | Anna Gibson

    Multi-sport training secrets, Olympic mindset shifts, and the art of balancing endurance sports—discover how to build unstoppable athletic versatility. Elevate your coaching or racing with power-packed tips from an Olympian who breaks all the rules. World-class athlete Anna Gibson joins Dirk on Endurance Unlimited to share her roller-coaster journey from track running and alpine skiing to trail, skimo, and elite gravel and mountain biking—often flipping the script on traditional training wisdom. You’ll get actionable insights into how being a multi-sport athlete can supercharge your competitive edge, why chasing curiosity fuels elite performance, and how to strategically blend volume, intensity, and rest when balancing several disciplines at once. Chapters: 00:00 – Anna Gibson’s Olympic Skimo Leap: The Unexpected Journey 01:46 – Building a Multi-Sport Engine: Running, Skiing, and Biking 03:54 – Life After the Olympics: Motivation, Mental Health & Reset 06:47 – From Alpine and Nordic to Trail: Early Athletic Foundations 10:30 – Closet Skimo Training and the Road to Team USA 12:26 – Saying Yes: Olympic Skimo Commitment and Qualification 15:17 – The Role of Camps and Community in Rising Fast 17:01 – Blending Training: Off-Season Recovery and Rapid Skill Development 19:44 – Confidence, Resilience, and Takeaways From Multi-Sport Racing 21:45 – Optimizing Cross-Training: Interplay Between Running, Biking & Skiing 24:18 – Future Goals: Big Mountain Events and Staying Curious 28:06 – Challenging Specialization: Lessons From Racing and Experimenting 29:55 – Leadville 100 Prep: Structure, Weaknesses, and Training Philosophy 35:39 – Sponsorships and Career Balance in a Multi-Sport Life 38:08 – Managing Workouts, Recovery, and Strength Across Disciplines 43:19 – Coaching Multi-Sport Athletes and Advice for Beginners 46:30 – Embracing Uncertainty, Staying Curious, and the Road Ahead

    49 min
  3. The Real Story: Coaching, Contracts, & Pregnancy in Elite Cycling | Sarah Sturm & Dennis van Winden

    6 may

    The Real Story: Coaching, Contracts, & Pregnancy in Elite Cycling | Sarah Sturm & Dennis van Winden

    Pregnancy and Elite Athletic Performance: How Pro Cyclist Sarah Sturm and Coach Dennis Van Winden Redefine Training for Mom Athletes. Discover top pregnancy-safe training tips, real athlete-coach strategies, and how to navigate racing, metrics, mental health, and sponsorships, without missing a beat. Elite cyclist Sarah Sturm and her coach Dennis Van Winden break new ground with a candid look at what it takes to maintain consistency, motivation, and health throughout pregnancy as a professional athlete. From adapting the athlete’s mindset to rethinking metrics and embracing Rate of Perceived Exertion, this episode delivers essential insights for female athletes (and coaches) facing the unknowns of pregnancy and postpartum return to racing. 00:00 – Mindset Shift: From Performance to Health in Pregnancy04:07 – When Career Meets Family: Planning for Pregnancy10:17 – Stress, Racing Seasons, and Conceiving as an Athlete14:56 – Privacy, Career Impact, and the Athlete Mindset17:33 – Letting Go of FTP: Embracing RPE and Subjective Training21:02 – Nutrition & Fueling: Adapting Intake for Pregnancy Needs22:36 – Flexible Programming: Communication and Weekly Check-ins29:10 – Grand Prix Notification: Navigating Pregnancy in Pro Competition31:15 – Pioneering Deferrals: Advocating for Maternity Policies33:14 – Sponsor Support: Contracts, Clauses, and Progressive Change35:35 – Identity Shifts: Psychological and Emotional Dynamics38:12 – Planning the Comeback: Hopes and Unknowns for 202743:02 – The Coach-Athlete Relationship: Trust, Adaptability, and Support49:03 – Data Gaps and Experimentation: Building Knowledge for Future Athletes54:38 – Comparing Experiences: Each Pregnancy is Unique59:46 – Postpartum Roadmap: Day-by-Day Planning for the Comeback1:02:02 – Advice for Athletes: Building a Support System Before and During Pregnancy1:02:41 – Closing Thoughts: Changing the Conversation about Pregnancy, Athletics, and Support

    1 h 5 min
  4. Can You Transform Your Fitness in Just 14 Days? | Ben Day

    2 abr

    Can You Transform Your Fitness in Just 14 Days? | Ben Day

    Heat Adaptation Hacks for Cyclists: How the Pros Master Sauna Protocols, Active Heat Training & Performance Gains. Discover the power of heat acclimatization to boost resilience, race readiness, and recovery in any climate. Pro coach Ben Day unleashes the secrets of modern endurance training through practical protocols and behind-the-scenes stories from Girona, Boulder, and the pro peloton. This episode peels back the science of heat training—from sauna and hot tub sessions to sweat-inducing paint suits and indoor trainer hacks—and reveals how every athlete, from ambitious amateurs to WorldTour contenders, can unlock cardiovascular and performance gains with just 7-14 days of heat exposure. Learn how to: Integrate heat training into your annual plan for serious marginal gains without burning out Dial in the balance between active (trainer, paint suit) and passive (sauna, hot tubs) protocols to match your schedule Track adaptation using heart rate, power, core temperature, and good old-fashioned athlete feedback for a complete picture Avoid common mistakes—why “more is not better” and the art of nailing your heat adaptation window for race day Whether you’re prepping for a midsummer gran fondo, an early Tour Down Under, or just want a physiological edge, you’ll hear exactly how the world’s best apply cutting-edge research and TrainingPeaks tools to bring it all together. Consistency, structured feedback, and smart scheduling are the name of the game—get the pro tips to adapt faster, recover better, and take your performance into the red-hot zone.

    48 min
  5. 4 mar

    Building America’s Dream Cycling Team with George Hincapie and Bobby Julich

    In this episode, George Hincapie and Bobby Julich joins host Dirk Friel to dive into the ambitious launch of Modern Adventure Cycling—a new American cycling team that’s already making waves on the international stage. With decades of experience racing and leading teams, George Hincapie and Bobby Julich share what inspired them to tackle this monumental project, how they overcame challenges in building their roster, and why fostering a positive team culture matters more than chasing results. From candid stories about assembling their squad to detailing their unique approach to high performance and athlete development, this episode is a masterclass on leadership, adaptability, and what it means to create opportunities for the next generation of American cyclists. Plus, hear behind-the-scenes moments from training camps in Girona, their unexpected invitations to world-class races, and the philosophy that guides them as they strive not only for podiums, but for lasting impact in the cycling community. 00:00 Power Analysis and Lap Comparison 03:09 "New Devices, Metrics, Automation" 07:50 "Inside Modern Adventure Pro Cycling" 12:04 "Securing the Deal to Start" 13:43 "Selecting Young Cyclists Wisely" 18:14 Supporting Riders, Building Futures 21:40 "Building a Team We Wanted" 24:26 Teamwork Boosts Morale 27:52 "Coaching: Data vs. Connection" 31:58 "Adjusting Plans for Race Invites" 33:11 American Cycling's Ambitious Revival 36:04 "Performance Priorities and Future Goals" 40:20 Emerging American Cyclists in Spotlight 42:54 "Team Unity Drives Success" 47:51 "Maintaining American Presence Abroad" 50:42 "Endurance Unlimited Podcast Sign-Off"

    50 min
  6. 14 ene

    Transform Your Training with Smarter Sleep: Insights with Charlotte Edelsten

    Host Dirk Friel is joined by sleep researcher and sleep coach Charlotte Edelsten, whose expertise is backed by over two decades of research on sleep and performance. Together, they dive deep into the science behind sleep for endurance athletes—addressing why sleep is a true foundation for training adaptations, injury prevention, and race-day performance. Charlotte Edelsten shares insights from her years conducting research at high-profile endurance events like UTMB Mont Blanc, unpacks why many athletes struggle with sleep quality (even Olympians!), and dispels myths about supplements and wearables. She discusses practical strategies for managing sleep during training and competition, including napping protocols, sleep banking, and how to optimize rest at altitude or before an ultra-endurance race. 00:00 "Endurance Training & Sleep Insights" 03:37 Sleep Disturbances in Athletes 09:10 Caffeine: Adenosine Blocker Explained 11:10 Limitations of Sleep-Tracking Devices 13:21 "Sleep's Impact on Athletic Performance" 18:46 "Understanding Sleep Through Sleep Diaries" 20:54 "Supplements Won't Cure Sleep Issues" 26:07 "Pre-Race Sleep and Mindset" 29:18 "Sleep Strategies and Performance" 31:01 "Gradual Sleep Extension for Athletes" 33:39 "Strategic Napping in Sports" 37:39 "Optimizing Sleep for Best Rest" 42:09 Sleep's Role in UTMB Success 43:49 "Fatigue Management for Runners" 47:42 "Caffeine Strategies in Training" 50:51 "Hallucinations From Extreme Sleep Deprivation" 55:12 "Endurance Unlimited: Follow & Train"

    56 min

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The training podcast for serious endurance athletes and coaches — powered by TrainingPeaks. Each episode, we dive deep with elite cyclists, runners, triathletes, ultramarathon athletes, and the coaches who train them, pulling out the science, strategy, and real-world insights that actually move the needle on performance. If you're training for your next race — or coaching athletes who are — this is where you come to analyze how you're training. To learn more about how TrainingPeaks can help you achieve your training goals, visit us at trainingpeaks.com.

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