You Got Stronger… So Why Are You Losing? | Pro Cyclist Tobin Ortenblad | Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast 583
Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad
TrainerRoad
4.9 • 4.6K Ratings
🗓️ 30 April 2026
⏱️ 82 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
🍝 Free Cycling Nutrition Calculator! 👉 https://trainerroad.cc/cyclingnutritioncalculator
🚀 Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 www.TrainerRoad.com
// SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!
iTunes: https://trainerroad.cc/apple2
Spotify: https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2
Google Podcasts: https://trainerroad.cc/google
// TOPICS COVERED
(00:00:00) Welcome!
(00:02:45) Skills vs Fitness: What Really Matters?
(00:08:10) The Most Overlooked Cycling Skill
(00:15:20) Race Tactics That Actually Win
(00:25:30) How to Make Better Decisions in Races
(00:35:40) Why Pros Win (And Amateurs Don’t)
(00:45:50) Positioning Secrets Most Riders Miss
(00:56:30) Why Chasing FTP Can Backfire
(01:03:30) Technique vs Power: What to Focus On
(01:10:15) How to Balance Power and Bike Handling
(01:16:30) Common Mistakes Slowing You Down
(01:19:30) Lost & Found Gravel Race Talk
In this episode, Coach Jonathan Lee and pro cyclist Tobin Ortenblad dive deep into race tactics for riders who’ve become the strongest—and most marked—in the field, unpacking a listener’s dilemma of being constantly shut down after forming a dominant two-person team . They explore why “negative racing” happens, how group dynamics shift when everyone is racing against you, and why patience, emotional control, and strategic decision-making are critical to winning again. Using real-world examples from the Lifetime Grand Prix, they break down how elite riders like Keegan Swenson navigate being heavily marked, when to commit to breakaways, and why sometimes the smartest move is not to chase or even to let go of the win. The episode highlights key tactics like choosing which moves to follow, leveraging fatigue, positioning out of sight, and even redefining success by focusing on beating specific rivals rather than the whole field—offering actionable insights for cyclists looking to outsmart the competition and turn fitness into results.
// RESOURCES MENTIONED
- Free Cycling Nutrition Calculator: https://trainerroad.cc/cyclingnutritioncalculator
- Tobin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mctubbbin
- Sign up for TrainerRoad! https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster
- Follow TrainerRoad on Instagram 📸 https://www.instagram.com/TrainerRoad
- Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub
// TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!
https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.
// HELPFUL LINKS
- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: https://www.TrainerRoad.com/podcast
- TrainerRoad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/
- TrainerRoad Forum: https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE
- TrainerRoad on Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad
- TrainerRoad on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd
- TrainerRoad on X: https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad
- Learn more about TrainerRoad: https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur
- Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5
- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP
- Training Blog: https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Ask a Cycling Coach podcast presented by trainer-road. I'm coach Jonathan Lee. We have |
| 0:04.1 | pro cyclist Tobin Orton Blod with us from Santa Cruz, Ram, Velocchio, never second, tons of brands. Tobin, it's good to have you back. You're a very popular podcast host. We're going to be talking today about a bunch of different things that people could do that can make themselves faster or slower, depending on how they view it, tactics, training, all the different discussion points. Good to have you on, man. |
| 0:24.5 | Glad to be back |
| 0:25.3 | always good to you know do a little pod that's right that's right you just mentioned before we |
| 0:30.6 | recover that uh that i'm recording from your bedroom you were just at our house not long ago |
| 0:34.9 | uh doing some dirt bike racing and stopped by. |
| 0:37.8 | Indeed I was. Yeah. You're nice and close to Virginia City currently. |
| 0:42.5 | Yes, sir. Yes, sir. That was awesome. So Tobin's out here racing dirt bikes as well as racing |
| 0:47.1 | pedal bikes. It's pretty awesome. It's good stuff. Good stuff. I think that was the last last |
| 0:52.1 | dirt bike race for a while though. Bikes are really big. Bikes are getting properly busy now. |
| 0:58.9 | That's right. It's tis the season. Let's jump straight into this question from, well, it's actually, it's marked as anonymous and it'll make sense why. |
| 1:07.9 | Athlete says, hey, coach is hoping you can help me with a complicated tactical situation. |
| 1:12.9 | And keeping this anonymous for what will be obvious reasons. |
| 1:15.9 | Between my friend and I, we have dominated our local crit series for the last few years. |
| 1:20.1 | But only recently, as of this year, we've been on the same team. |
| 1:23.6 | We decided to leave our existing teams and form a new one. |
| 1:26.4 | As of now, it's just us, but we plan on |
| 1:28.3 | building into a bigger master's program over the next few years. It should have been obvious that |
| 1:33.1 | the two strongest riders teaming up would result in marking, but we somewhat foolishly thought it |
| 1:38.8 | wouldn't be an issue, and we'd keep dominating. But us joining together on our little team |
| 1:43.0 | has basically created a giant |
| 1:44.4 | other team composed of every single rider in the field, all working together with the same goal. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from TrainerRoad, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of TrainerRoad and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.