Endurance Unlimited

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

Ever wondered what it takes to prep for the toughest endurance race on Earth?

Alex Howes and Joe Lewis kick off a new series, "Peak Access," part of the Endurance Unlimited podcast. In our first episode, we dive into the unique challenges of the Tour de France. With over 54,000 meters of climbing in just 21 days, this race is not for the faint-hearted.

But it’s not just about the climbs. The athletes are facing a historic heat wave, making their training even more crucial.

Join us as we discuss the insights, strategies, and the importance of the performance management chart that keeps these pros on track.

What questions do you have about training and racing to Paris? Share your questions in the comments! 👇
For more info and stories about how Tour teams use TrainingPeaks data, check out our TdF Hub Page.

#TourdeFrance #PeakAccess

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

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

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.