Getting Fitter Cycling in 2026: How to Increase VO₂ Max, FTP, Power-to-Weight and Lose Weight

Written By Dan Coombe

Introduction: Make 2026 Your Fittest Year on the Bike

Every year, cyclists set goals to get fitter, ride faster, and feel stronger on the bike.
Yet many start with motivation and finish with frustration.

Getting fitter cycling in 2026 isn’t about riding harder every session — it’s about training smarter, improving the right physiological markers, and building sustainable habits.

At Raceline Coaching, we help cyclists in the UK and worldwide improve fitness by focusing on what truly matters:

  • VO₂ max

  • FTP

  • Power-to-weight ratio (W/kg)

  • Body composition and healthy weight loss

This guide explains how cyclists can genuinely improve fitness in 2026, without burnout or wasted training time.

What Does “Getting Fitter Cycling” Actually Mean?

Cycling fitness is not one single metric.

True cycling fitness is the combination of:

  • Aerobic capacity

  • Sustainable power

  • Efficiency

  • Durability

  • Healthy body composition

Improving fitness means developing these together, not chasing one number at the expense of the others.

VO₂ Max: Building the Engine

What Is VO₂ Max in Cycling?

VO₂ max is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise.
In cycling, it reflects the size of your aerobic engine.

A higher VO₂ max allows you to:

  • Ride harder for longer

  • Recover faster between efforts

  • Respond better to high-intensity training

  • Raise your performance ceiling

How to Increase VO₂ Max Cycling in 2026

VO₂ max responds best to high-quality intensity, not endless volume.

Effective strategies include:

  • Short, hard intervals at 105–120% FTP

  • Repeated 3–5 minute efforts with controlled recovery

  • Progressive overload over weeks

  • Adequate recovery between sessions

Crucially, VO₂ work must be placed correctly within a wider training plan. Too much intensity leads to stagnation, not progress.

FTP: Turning Fitness Into Sustainable Power

What Is FTP?

Functional Threshold Power (FTP) represents the highest power you can sustain for approximately one hour.

FTP is one of the most important metrics for:

  • Endurance performance

  • Racing

  • Sportives

  • Time trials

  • Climbing ability

Raising FTP means you can ride faster at the same effort.

How to Increase FTP Cycling in 2026

FTP improves through:

  • Consistent aerobic training

  • Threshold and sub-threshold intervals

  • Structured progression

  • Long-term consistency

Key sessions often include:

  • Sweet spot training

  • Tempo endurance rides

  • Threshold intervals

  • Aerobic base work

FTP does not improve from constant maximal efforts — it improves when training stress is applied intelligently and repeatedly.

Power-to-Weight Ratio (W/kg): The Climber’s Advantage

What Is W/kg?

Power-to-weight ratio (watts per kilogram) measures how much power you produce relative to your body weight.

This metric is critical for:

  • Climbing

  • Accelerations

  • Racing efficiency

Improving W/kg can come from:

  • Increasing power

  • Reducing body weight

  • Ideally, both — without compromising health or performance

Improving W/kg the Right Way in 2026

The biggest mistake cyclists make is chasing weight loss without protecting power.

Smart W/kg improvement focuses on:

  • Building power first

  • Managing weight gradually

  • Avoiding aggressive calorie restriction

  • Supporting recovery and hormonal health

Sustainable improvements always outperform short-term dieting.

Weight Loss and Cycling: What Actually Works

Can Cycling Help You Lose Weight?

Yes — but only when paired with the right approach.

Cycling supports weight loss by:

  • Increasing daily energy expenditure

  • Improving insulin sensitivity

  • Supporting metabolic health

  • Preserving lean muscle mass

However, training alone is not enough.

Sustainable Weight Loss for Cyclists

Effective weight loss cycling strategies include:

  • Consistent training volume

  • Small, manageable calorie deficits

  • Adequate carbohydrate intake around key sessions

  • Sufficient protein for recovery

  • Long-term habits, not short-term restrictions

Weight loss should support performance — not undermine it.

How These Metrics Work Together

Cycling fitness improves fastest when:

  • VO₂ max sets the ceiling

  • FTP raises sustainable performance

  • W/kg improves efficiency

  • Body composition supports power production

Chasing one metric in isolation often leads to imbalance.
Professional coaching ensures everything progresses together.

Training Consistency: The Real Secret to Getting Fitter Cycling

The biggest predictor of fitness gains in 2026 is not talent — it’s consistency.

Consistency comes from:

  • Realistic training plans

  • Flexibility around life commitments

  • Avoiding burnout

  • Adapting training week to week

Cyclists who train consistently for 12 months outperform those who train perfectly for 3.

Getting Fitter Cycling in the UK and Worldwide

UK Cycling Challenges

Cyclists in the UK face:

  • Short winter daylight hours

  • Poor weather

  • Limited outdoor opportunities

Smart coaching integrates:

  • Indoor training

  • Seasonal planning

  • Weather-aware programming

Online Cycling Coaching Anywhere

Raceline Coaching works with cyclists worldwide, delivering personalised online cycling coaching that adapts to:

  • Time zones

  • Climate

  • Work schedules

  • Racing calendars

Location never limits performance potential.

Why Coaching Accelerates Fitness Gains

Self-coached riders often:

  • Train too hard, too often

  • Miss recovery

  • Plateau unnecessarily

Professional cycling coaching provides:

  • Structure

  • Accountability

  • Objective feedback

  • Long-term progression

This is how cyclists unlock year-on-year improvement.

Make 2026 Your Strongest Year on the Bike

Getting fitter cycling in 2026 is not about quick fixes.

It’s about:

  • Intelligent structure

  • Consistent training

  • Improving VO₂ max, FTP, and W/kg together

  • Managing weight sustainably

  • Training around real life

At Raceline Coaching, we help cyclists in the UK and worldwide train smarter, improve fitness, and achieve lasting performance.

We work with limited spaces to maintain quality and focus.

Final Thoughts: Fitness Built to Last

Cycling fitness is earned through patience, structure, and intelligent progression.

If you want 2026 to be the year you ride stronger, climb faster, and feel fitter than ever — the right approach makes all the difference.

Raceline Coaching: Train Smarter. Perform Better.

Dan Coombe https://www.racelinecoaching.co.uk
Next

Cycling Coaching – Raceline Coaching: Born to Win