VELOARCHITECT

The 20-minute FTP test is the long-duration alternative. Veloarchitect dispatches this template when the Athlete’s race profile is 20–60 minutes (40K TT, long road TT, road race breakaway). The protocol is a 5-minute opening surge to deplete phosphocreatine, followed by a 20-minute best-effort; the 20-minute average power × 0.95 is the FTP estimate. The test requires full recovery in the 48 hours preceding and produces a Failure Horizon collapse for 72 hours post-test.

The 20-minute FTP test is the canonical threshold test. An Athlete with strong 20-minute sustainability but weak repeatability will register a higher FTP on the 20-minute test than on the 8-minute test; Veloarchitect reads the Athlete’s race profile and dispatches the matching protocol. The Athlete who targets a 40K TT and takes only the 8-minute test will arrive at the start line with an FTP the body cannot deliver for 20 minutes — pacing collapses by minute 30.

Protocols: Protocol 10 — Adaptive Workout; Protocol 11 — Failure Horizon

Worked Example — 20-min FTP test at 268W pre-test FTP

Athlete: 41y/o, 268W pre-test FTP, 1.49 W/bpm. 20-minute average: 282W × 0.95 = 268W. New FTP: 268W (no change). The pre-test estimate was anchored to a recent 8-minute test; the body has since shifted toward 20-minute sustainability. Adaptive Workout confirms the threshold targets. Mechanical Efficiency holds at 1.49 W/bpm. Failure Horizon projection tightens to 72 hours post-test; the next 72 hours are dispatched as Recovery Spin + Z2.