Compound Score or FTP?

According to TrainerRoad, Function Threshold Power (FTP) is a measure of your cycling fitness and ability to maintain a high but manageable power output for a somewhat lengthy duration. From a physiological perspective, it’s the cycling power you produce when your lactate production has risen, leveled off, and then closely matches your body’s ability to remove lactate.Compound Score combines absolute and relative power, accounting for both strength and weight efficiency. This dual approach offers a more comprehensive performance assessment, especially in varied terrain, making it more accurate than FTP alone.

Compound Score Formula

Compound Score = absolute power output (W) × relative power output (W/kg)Absolute power output is the total power output measured in watts (W). This is a measure of the total work done by the cyclist without considering their body weight.Relative power output is the power output normalized to body mass, measured in watts per kilogram (W/kg). This takes into account the cyclist's body weight, providing a measure of power efficiency.

As seen on YouTube

Chris Miller (@chrismiller27) and Jesse Coyle (@jessecoyle) from the Nero Show sit down with Patrick Broe from @LanterneRougeCycling and @LanterneRougeCyclingPodcast.The Nero Show cycling video podcast, the only unfiltered cycling chat show available on YouTube and Spotify (and other podcast platforms).The Lantern Rouge is the most popular pro cycling podcast and YouTube show, breaking down team rosters, Grand Tour stages and monuments.

Used by Flamme Rouge Racing

The Compound Score

The Compound Score in elite road cyclingObjectives: This study aimed to investigate predictors of cycling performance in U23 cyclists by comparing traditional approaches to a novel method - the compound score. Thirty male U23 cyclists (N = 30, age 20.1 ± 1.1 yrs, body mass 69.0 ± 6.9 kg, height 182.6 ± 6.2 cm, V̇O2max 73.8 ± 2.5 mL·kg-1·min-1) participated in this study.Design: Power output information was derived from laboratory and field-testing during pre-season and mean maximal power outputs (MMP) from racing season. Absolute and relative 5-min MMP, 5-min MMP after 2000 kJ (MMP2000 kJ), allometric scaling and the compound score were compared to the race score and podium (top 3) performance during a competitive season.Methods: Positive and negative predictive values were calculated for all significant performance variables for the likelihood of a podium performance.Results: The absolute 5-min MMP of the field test revealed the highest negative predictive capacity (82.4%, p = 0.012) for a podium performance. The compound score of the 5-min MMP2000 kJ demonstrated the highest positive and average predictive capacity (83.3%, 78.0%, p = 0.007 - respectively). The multi-linear regression analysis revealed a significant predictive capacity between performance variables and the race score (R2 = 0.55, p = 0.015).Conclusions: Collectively the results of the present study reveal that the compound score, alongside absolute power, was able to predict the highest positive and average likelihood for a podium performance. These findings can help to better understand performance capacity from field data to predict future cycling success.Leo, P., Spragg, J., Wakefield, J., & Swart, J. (2022). The Compound Score in elite road cycling. Journal of Science & Cycling, [Conference Paper]

• Learn More

Peter Leo. Ph.D. - Dr. Leo is a researcher, coach, and endurance training scientist at AusCycling