Totally. Below is the Xert power profile of my last gravel race. For those of you who know Xert, you will know that when the power you are putting out from the bottom pulls the purple line (representing “maximum power available”) down and the two actually touch… this represents a deep, painful visit to the hurt locker… I was deep in the well at least twice in the first 15 miles. DEEP.
You can see how all of this maps to the altitude underlay as well.
I would use a cyclocross or criterium plan to train for this race If it was an “A” event. I think the century plan would be appropriate for others. Also, how you race it matters — I was actually staying at the pointy end of the race here. But if I let the leaders go and just went out for a PR, this power profile would look different.
I think there’s a lot of misunderstanding here when we say “racing gravel.” You need to define whether you’re racing at the pointy end of the event in that group, or whether you’re more on the party end of the event (which is likely to be a long, predominantly solo) day on beautiful gravel roads. For the former, it’s a road race exactly. Tactics, drafting, strategy, and power profile are fairly similar. The only difference I can think of is that the first hour or so is more selective because the starts tend to be open-category and the fast folks want a select group as soon as possible. Train like you would for a hard road race. RRR plan would be good. If you’re not with that group, it’s far less intense and you just need that long endurance, Century plan or the like would be ideal here. I would distinguish these as “racing” gravel vs “riding” gravel. To be clear, you can be “riding gravel” in a “gravel race.” That’s the beauty of the events. You can ride your own ride or your own race in the same event as the pros. You won’t get swept or disqualified, you won’t get lapped, and no one will look down on you for not being in that front group. In my experience most of the people complaining about the pointy end of the race being too pointy wouldn’t have been there in the first place. But I’m just rambling now. If you’re racing midwest gravel this spring, I’ll see you out there.
This is the point I was trying to make earlier, it you are racing at the front, it really is a road race for at least the first 45m to 1 hour or more, depending on the race. BUT, the other 95% of the people are likely putting out steady power, or should be!
I may not always (or never) be right at the front but I wouldn’t say 95% are, or should likely be, putting out steady power. There will still be climbs, there will still be wind, and, there will still be a bit of fight to stay in a group and stay in the draft. You’re likely not putting out the spikes of the first group but ticking out a steady wattage for 100+ miles, for me, would be pretty boring. I still like to race a bit. Even in the back.
All depends what you are looking for and what you’re looking to get out of it. Just finish…steady as she goes…do some racing for the best placing…kick out the jams a bit.
We don’t have the same types of events here, and I definitely would not be racing if we did, but I definitely think there’s enough completers for a different Gravel option in plan builder. I picked Gravel, and it gave me general build into RR, where as at my level, the Gran Fondo option was a much better fit for build and speciality.
Maybe as simple as “Gravel Racing” and “Gravel Events” as options in the Plan Builder, even if they effectively point you in the same direction as Rolling Road Race and Gran Fondo.
Thanks for sharing the file. Most of what I see seem to be longer duration events (unless you are exceedingly swift ) and endurance becomes a larger factor. SST and VO2 workouts do seem appropriate however. Lots of work over a very respectable FTP in your first half and well paced thereafter. Nice ride.
Re: aero bars on gravel.
LOL! This has been a hot, controversial topic in gravel races for some years. Just google “aero bars dirty kanza” and you’ll turn up several pro/con viewpoints. Many gravel races in the Midwest are long (100/200/300+ mi) and riders end up on their own for extended periods - possibly on flat, windy terrain in which aero bars may yield a distinct advantage. Of course, races like DK are big now and one may be riding in a pack for quite some miles, in which case the aero bars are sketchy or inappropriate – especially in the hands of a less experienced cyclist. Expect this debate to continue indefinitely. Cheers!
) and endurance becomes a larger factor. SST and VO2 workouts do seem appropriate however. Lots of work over a very respectable FTP in your first half and well paced thereafter. Nice ride.