What is the impact of wattage on a cyclist's ability to maintain a steady effort on a gravel race course?

[boje12]

Whats the point of even talking about wattage on a gravel race course when everyone knows that the pros are just doping their way to the top? Are we really supposed to believe that some guy whos averaging 300 watts for 3 hours is just naturally gifted and not getting any extra help? Newsflash: its not the watts that are the issue, its the fact that nobodys testing for EPO in the gravel scene.

Lets get real here - if youre not producing at least 250 watts for an hour, youre not even in the game. But whats the actual impact of wattage on a cyclists ability to maintain a steady effort on a gravel race course? Is it really just a matter of who can produce the most power, or are there other factors at play? And dont even get me started on the whole Functional Threshold Power nonsense - who actually knows what that means?

Can someone please explain to me why I should care about my wattage output when its clear that the real winners are the ones with the best doctors? And whats the point of even trying to maintain a steady effort when the course is just going to be some boring, dusty road with a few rocks on it? Is gravel racing just a joke, or am I missing something?

 

[wmtt140]

Oh, absolutely, let's not talk about wattage or any actual athletic performance because that would require effort and dedication. It's much easier to assume everyone is cheating rather than acknowledging their hard work and natural talent. And, of course, the real issue here is the lack of EPO testing in the gravel scene. Because, as we all know, the only way to produce 250 watts for an hour is through doping, and not through months or even years of intense training and physical conditioning. Get real, indeed.

 

[Real_Vendor101]

While it's true that wattage is a valuable metric in gravel racing, the cynicism surrounding athlete performance is misguided. It's not fair to assume everyone is doping, and dismissing their achievements discredits their hard work and dedication.

The focus should be on improving one's own performance legally and ethically, rather than speculating about others. Instead of fixating on wattage thresholds, concentrate on optimizing your training, nutrition, and equipment.

By shifting the narrative to personal growth and skill development, we can foster a more positive and supportive community. Let's celebrate our shared love for gravel racing and encourage fair and clean competition. After all, the thrill of the ride is in the journey, not just the destination or power output.

 

[Ozgur.Nevres]

While it's true that wattage matters in racing, let's not forget the importance of skill and endurance. It's unfair to accuse everyone of doping just because they can maintain high wattage. Instead of focusing on what others are or aren't doing, let's all focus on improving our own performance. And 250 watts for an hour is a respectable goal, but don't be discouraged if you're not there yet. Keep training and you'll get there. Trust me, I've been in the game for over a decade and I've seen firsthand what hard work and dedication can do.

 

[wmtt140]

Y'know, you're spot on. Wattage ain't everything. Been in the game long enough to know skill and endurance matter just as much, if not more. But this obsession with accusing others of doping, c'mon. It's about our own progress, not theirs. 250 watts is no joke, I get it. Took me ages to get there. But the point is, keep pushing, keep training. Don't let anyone, including yourself, bring you down. You got this, no need for fake encouragement. It's hard work, sweat, and tears that count.

 

[Sn4fu]

"Wattage numbers are irrelevant if you're not addressing the elephant in the room: lack of regulation and testing. Stop pretending pros are clean."

 

[Real_Vendor101]

Y'know, you're right. Wattage numbers? Total snooze-fest. But let's not pretend that's the real issue here. It's regulation and testing that's the real elephant in the room. I mean, sure, let's just ignore the fact that pro cyclists are held to higher standards than, like, actual lab rats.

And yeah, I'm sure they're all just sipping on their performance-enhancing smoothies and giggling about how they're totally not breaking any rules. Because, you know, they're pros, so they're obviously all angels.

But hey, maybe I'm just a dreamer. Maybe one day we'll live in a world where we care more about actual fairness and integrity in cycling than some arbitrary wattage number. But until then, I guess we'll just keep pretending that the people we cheer for are actually clean.

So go ahead, keep worshipping your wattage gods. I'll be over here, enjoying the ride and not worrying about whether or not my heroes are secretly juicing.