What's a Good FTP (and Watts per Kilogram)?
What counts as a good FTP and a good watts-per-kilogram, with ranges from beginner to pro, why W/kg beats raw watts on climbs, and how to test yours.
A good FTP is measured in watts per kilogram. At FTP, 2.5 to 3.0 W/kg is a typical recreational rider, 3.5 to 4.0 W/kg is a strong club racer, and 4.5 W/kg and up is the top few percent of cyclists. Women's bands sit a little lower at each level. Raw watts mean little without body weight: a 300-watt FTP is elite for a 60 kg rider and solid for a 95 kg rider.
What is FTP?
FTP stands for Functional Threshold Power, the highest steady power you can hold for about an hour. Your cycling power zones are percentages of it, so a wrong FTP makes every zone wrong.
Critical Power is a close relative. It comes from several maximal efforts of different durations fitted to a curve, which is more precise and more work. FTP is the practical shorthand. See Critical Power in the glossary.
What is watts per kilogram, and why does it matter more than raw watts?
Watts per kilogram (W/kg) is FTP divided by body weight. A 280-watt FTP at 70 kg is a power-to-weight ratio of 4.0 W/kg.
On a climb you fight gravity, and gravity scales with weight. Two riders with 300-watt FTPs climb at very different speeds if one weighs 65 kg and the other 90 kg. On a flat time trial, aerodynamic drag dominates and raw watts matter more. For climbing and for comparing fitness, W/kg is the number that travels. Work out yours with the watts-per-kilogram calculator.
What are the approximate category ranges?
These ranges come from the Coggan power profile. They overlap and vary by test method.
For men, at FTP:
- 2.0 to 2.5 W/kg: untrained or new to structured riding
- 2.5 to 3.0 W/kg: typical recreational rider
- 3.0 to 3.5 W/kg: fit enthusiast, regular training
- 3.5 to 4.0 W/kg: strong club racer
- 4.0 to 4.5 W/kg: competitive amateur racer
- 4.5 W/kg and up: the top few percent. The pro peloton sits above 5.5 W/kg.
For women, shift each band down by roughly 0.3 to 0.5 W/kg. A strong female club racer sits around 3.2 to 3.7 W/kg.
How do I find my FTP?
- The 20-minute test. Warm up, ride as hard as you can sustain for 20 minutes, multiply the average power by 0.95. The classic field test and the one most plans assume.
- The ramp test. Ride a steadily rising power until you cannot continue. Software estimates FTP from your final minute. Shorter and less pacing-dependent, but it can read high or low depending on your physiology.
- A smart-trainer estimate. Many platforms estimate FTP from ride data over time. A fine starting point. Confirm it with a real test before trusting your zones to it.
Retest every 6 to 8 weeks. Turn the result into W/kg and zones below, or with the FTP calculator.
FTP
250W
Sweet Spot
220–235W
88–94% FTP
| Zona | Rango | Qué entrena |
|---|---|---|
| Z1 | Recuperación activa ≤ 138 W | Recuperación; mueve las piernas sin añadir carga. RPE 1–2, muy fácil. |
| Z2 | Resistencia 139–188 W | Base aeróbica, oxidación de grasas, ritmo de todo el día. RPE 3–4, conversacional. |
| Z3 | Tempo 189–225 W | Resistencia aeróbica y eficiencia muscular. RPE 5–6, cómodamente duro. |
| Z4 | Umbral 226–263 W | Umbral de lactato, trabajo de FTP, el techo sostenible. RPE 7–8, repeticiones de 10–30 min. |
| Z5 | VO₂max 264–300 W | Potencia aeróbica máxima; intervalos de 3–8 min. RPE 9, muy duro. |
| Z6 | Capacidad anaeróbica 301–375 W | Capacidad anaeróbica; esfuerzos de 30 s–3 min. RPE 9–10, casi máximo. |
| Z7 | Potencia neuromuscular ≥ 376 W | Potencia de sprint y neuromuscular. RPE 10, sprints a tope. |
Z1 · Recuperación activa. Recuperación; mueve las piernas sin añadir carga. RPE 1–2, muy fácil.
Z2 · Resistencia. Base aeróbica, oxidación de grasas, ritmo de todo el día. RPE 3–4, conversacional.
Z3 · Tempo. Resistencia aeróbica y eficiencia muscular. RPE 5–6, cómodamente duro.
Z4 · Umbral. Umbral de lactato, trabajo de FTP, el techo sostenible. RPE 7–8, repeticiones de 10–30 min.
Z5 · VO₂max. Potencia aeróbica máxima; intervalos de 3–8 min. RPE 9, muy duro.
Z6 · Capacidad anaeróbica. Capacidad anaeróbica; esfuerzos de 30 s–3 min. RPE 9–10, casi máximo.
Z7 · Potencia neuromuscular. Potencia de sprint y neuromuscular. RPE 10, sprints a tope.
- El modelo de siete zonas de Andrew Coggan expresa cada zona como un porcentaje de la Potencia Umbral Funcional. El Sweet Spot (220–235 W, 88–94% FTP) se sitúa entre el Tempo y el Umbral y aporta un alto estímulo de entrenamiento con una fatiga moderada.
- La FTP es la potencia que en teoría podrías mantener durante aproximadamente una hora. Vuelve a hacer el test cada 4–6 semanas; una FTP desactualizada hace que todas las zonas estén mal.
Un PDF con tus resultados personalizados, más un código QR para volver a abrirlos cuando quieras.
How do I improve my watts per kilogram?
Two levers: raise FTP or lower body weight.
Raising FTP takes consistent volume, structured threshold and tempo work, and enough recovery to absorb it. Losing weight only helps if the weight is excess and your power stays intact. For most riders, building the engine beats cutting weight. Aggressive dieting costs power, energy and health, and can drag FTP down faster than the weight comes off. It can also tip into disordered eating. If you have excess weight to lose, do it gradually and well fuelled. Train first, let body composition follow.
Sources
- Allen and Coggan, Training and Racing with a Power Meter (FTP definition and power profile categories)