Check why training stopped, how you feel and which slots remain. Do not automatically make up missed minutes or training load.
Separate a scheduling problem from a recovery problem
Three days off the bike during a restful holiday are different from three travel days with very little sleep. The calendar records missing activity; it cannot measure all the fatigue from everyday life.
Start by noting why training stopped, which rides you actually completed and how you feel now. If the interruption involved illness, pain or injury, this article is not a return-to-training protocol. You need guidance suited to that situation, particularly if symptoms persist.
Keep, move or skip?
A session can move when a suitable slot exists and the new position preserves recovery. It can become simpler when available time shrinks. It can also be skipped: the plan supports your progress rather than acting as a checklist you must clear at any cost.
| Situation | Starting decision |
|---|---|
| One easy ride missed in an otherwise normal week | Continue without adding the missing minutes |
| Two hard workouts now fall on consecutive days | Keep one priority and separate demanding efforts |
| The weekend long ride disappears | Choose a realistic slot and accept less endurance exposure |
| High fatigue despite few activities | Lower the demand and reassess after recovery |
Example: four planned hours become two
You planned 60 minutes on Tuesday, 60 on Thursday and 120 on Saturday. Travel removes Tuesday and cuts Saturday to one hour. If you feel well, Thursday can hold an appropriate focused session and Saturday an easy ride. That is two coherent hours without inventing a slot or doubling a workout.
If you return tired from the trip, both rides can stay easy or one can become rest. Identical availability does not always call for identical training. Your ability to recover has changed, not just the number of minutes.
Return after a longer interruption
After several inconsistent weeks, start from recent practice instead of blindly resuming an advanced week in the programme. British Cycling's guidance also distinguishes the length and cause of interruptions; it does not advise adding every missed workout back into the schedule.
In EndurTrack, change availability for the affected week rather than lowering every future week. Import the rides you completed and submit a check-in. The coach can then propose a week from those inputs while retaining a record of its decisions.
Common questions
Do I need an FTP test after missing a week?
Missing one week does not automatically call for a maximal test. First assess why you stopped, how you feel and whether your usual training references still make sense.
Can I skip a workout without losing all my progress?
Progress depends on longer-term consistency. One missed session cannot, by itself, quantify a loss of fitness. Avoid compensating with an improvised overload.
Sources and editorial approach
The example weeks are educational EndurTrack proposals, not protocols validated for every individual. The sources below explain the principles and their limitations.
Read the EndurTrack method →