Ultra Endurance Cycling Coach | 24-Hour, Stage Race & Leadville Training

Ultra Endurance Cycling Coach | 24-Hour, Stage Race & Leadville Training

Ultra Endurance Coaching

Built for the Long Day

I coach cyclists for 24, 12 and 8-hour races, multi-day stage races and the biggest one-day ultras — Belgian Waffle Ride, Leadville 100, Fuego XL, Unbound and events like them.

These races aren’t won by the strongest rider in the first hour. They’re won by the rider who still has power, a working stomach and a clear head in hour ten. That’s what we train.

Tested, planned and paced — so you finish strong, not just finish.

24-Hour12-Hour8-HourStage RacesUltra Gravel100-Mile MTB
Coached athlete Miguel on the podium at the 2026 Baja Epic stage race
2026 Baja Epic — 2nd overall

Events I Coach For

Each format stresses the body differently. Your plan is built around the demands of your specific race — its duration, terrain, altitude, climate and rules.

01 · 6 to 24 hours

Timed Races

Lap-based 8, 12 and 24-hour races, solo or on a team. The goal is the most laps in the time — so pacing, pit stops and night riding matter as much as fitness.
Key LimitersPacing, fueling, sleep deprivation, night laps
24 Hour Solo12 Hour8 HourTeam Relay
02 · 3 to 7 days

Stage Races

Back-to-back race days where recovery between stages is part of the race. You need to race hard today and still show up ready tomorrow.
Key LimitersDay-to-day recovery, repeat efforts, gut tolerance
Baja EpicBreck EpicBC Bike RaceGravel Stage Races
03 · 6 to 14+ hours

One-Day Ultras

Long gravel, road and mountain bike events with huge climbing, mixed surfaces and sometimes altitude. One shot, one long day.
Key LimitersDurability, climbing, heat & altitude, fueling
BWRLeadville 100Fuego XLUnbound Gravel
A Different Sport

What Decides Ultra Races

FTP matters, but past five or six hours other things take over. These are the factors we train and plan for, one by one.

01DurabilityHow much of your power you keep after 3,000+ kJ of work. Two riders with the same FTP can be very different at hour eight.
02Fueling & Gut TrainingWorking up to 60–120g of carbs per hour without stomach problems takes practice — we train the gut like a muscle.
03Pacing DisciplineRiding to a planned power cap early, so you’re passing people late instead of fading.
04Hydration & SodiumFluid and electrolyte targets based on your sweat rate and the expected race conditions.
05Heat & AltitudeAcclimation strategies for hot desert races and high-altitude events like Leadville.
06Night Riding & SleepLighting, focus and strategy for the overnight hours of a 24-hour race.
07Recovery Between StagesPost-stage refueling, sleep and easy spin routines that get you ready for the next day.
08Comfort & Contact PointsSaddle, hands and feet that still feel okay at hour twelve — small issues become race-enders.

Testing That Drives the Plan

Guessing at pacing and fueling for a 12-hour day is how races fall apart. We measure first, then set your training zones, race pace and fueling targets from real numbers.

Test 01FTP TestingSets your training zones and the power ceiling your race pace is built from.FTP Testing →Test 02VO2 Max TestingMeasures your aerobic ceiling and heart-rate zones, and shows how much room there is to grow your engine.VO2 Max Testing →Test 03RMR TestingYour resting metabolic rate — the baseline for daily nutrition, race-week fueling and multi-day energy needs.RMR Testing →Test 04Durability TestingShort efforts repeated after long rides of 2,000–4,000 kJ, to measure how much power you hold when tired.Included in coachingTest 05Fueling & Sweat TrialsLong rides with planned carb, fluid and sodium intake to find what your body tolerates and actually needs.Included in coachingTest 06Endurance Bike FitA position you can hold for 12+ hours — comfort and sustainable power over pure aerodynamics.Bike Fit →
Metrics We TrackAnalyzed in WKO5 and TrainingPeaks, every week, so the plan adapts to how you’re actually responding.
Power Duration CurveYour best power from seconds to hours, and how it changes.
Stamina & TTEHow long you can hold threshold, and how well you resist fatigue.
kJ-Based FatiguePower after set amounts of work, tracked across the build.
Training LoadCTL, ATL and TSB to build fitness without burning out.
DecouplingHeart rate drift vs. power on long rides — a direct aerobic fitness check.
The Methodology

How We Build Your Season

Training works backward from race day. Most ultra plans run 16–24 weeks, with re-testing at the end of each phase to confirm progress.

Phase 01BaseAerobic volume, strength and skills. Build the engine and the habit of fueling every ride.
Phase 02BuildThreshold and tempo work plus long rides that grow in duration and kJ.
Phase 03SpecificRace simulations, back-to-back long days, night rides, terrain and heat or altitude prep.
Phase 04TaperVolume drops, intensity stays — arrive fresh with fitness intact.
Phase 05Race & RecoverExecute the race plan, then a structured recovery block before what’s next.
Key sessions
Back-to-Back Long RidesTempo Under FatigueNight RidesRace SimulationsGut Training RidesStrength Training

Your Race Day Plan

Before every A-race you get a written plan covering the whole event — rehearsed in training so nothing on race day is new.

01Pacing PlanPower and heart-rate caps by segment, climb or lap — with rules for when to push and when to hold back.
02Fueling ScheduleCarbs, fluids and sodium per hour, timed to the course and aid stations.
03Pit & Crew StrategyWhat happens at each stop, who does what, and how to keep stops short.
04Gear & Lights ChecklistBike setup, tires, spares, clothing changes and lighting for overnight hours.
05Contingency PlansWhat to do with a mechanical, a bad stomach, heat, cold or a low moment.
06Post-Race ReviewWe go through your file and notes together to plan the next one.
Common Questions

Ultra FAQ

+How long does it take to train for a 24-hour race?

Most riders need 16–24 weeks of focused training if they already ride consistently. Newer riders should plan on a full season, often starting with a 6 or 8-hour race first.

+How many carbs should I eat per hour in an ultra?

Most endurance athletes do well with 60–90g of carbs per hour, and trained riders can often absorb up to 120g. We find your number in training and build up to it gradually so your gut can handle it on race day.

+How do you train for Leadville 100 and altitude?

We combine long climbing rides, threshold work and altitude planning — arrival timing, pacing lower than you would at sea level, and extra attention to hydration and fueling at elevation.

+How is a stage race plan different from a one-day ultra?

Stage races add recovery as a skill. Training includes back-to-back hard days, and your race plan covers post-stage nutrition, sleep and how to pace day one so you still have legs on the final day.

+Is FTP important for endurance events?

FTP sets your zones and ceiling, but durability — how much power you hold after hours of riding — matters more in ultras. We test and train both.

+Do I need lab testing to get started?

No. We can start from field tests and ride data. FTP, VO2 max and RMR testing give more accurate zones and fueling targets, and are recommended before a big build.

+Can you coach me for BWR, Fuego XL or Unbound?

Yes. Plans are built around your specific event — its distance, climbing, surfaces, climate and timing — whether it’s gravel, road or mountain bike.

Coached athlete Miguel holding his prize check for 2nd place overall at the 2026 Baja Epic
Coached athlete Miguel · 2nd overall, Baja Epic

Pick Your Big Race

Coaching by Gilberto Cortez, a USA Cycling and TrainingPeaks certified coach with 20+ years of racing — including multi-day stage races like the Baja Epic.

USA Cycling CertifiedTrainingPeaks Certified20+ Years RacingWKO5 Analysis
Ready for the Long Day?

Tell me your race, your date and where you’re starting from — we’ll map out the build.

Call me today(619) 649-9309

Pricing

Junior
Package

For NICA and other junior athletes (up to 18 years old)

$199
  • USA Cycling & TrainingPeaks Certified Coach
  • Bi-Weekly Updates to your Custom Training Plan
  • 24-Hour Coach Response Time
  • TrainingPeaks Basic Account
  • Workout Analysis with WKO5 Included
  • Cycling, Strength and Running Workouts
Get Started!

Basic
Package

A great place to start for beginners and amateur athletes

$199
  • USA Cycling & TrainingPeaks Certified Coach
  • Bi-Weekly Updates to your Custom Training Plan
  • Weekly Coach Communication
  • TrainingPeaks Basic Account
  • Workout Analysis with WKO5 Included
  • Cycling, Strength and Running Workouts
Get Started!

Gold
Package

For the serious amateur, semi-pro or master level athlete

$299
  • USA Cycling & TrainingPeaks Certified Coach
  • Weekly Updates to your Custom Training Plan
  • 24-Hour Coach Response Time
  • TrainingPeaks Premium Account
  • Workout Analysis with WKO5 Included
  • Cycling, Strength and Running Workouts
Get Started!

Triathlete
Package

For the athletes that like to mix it up a bit (all levels)

$299
  • USA Cycling & TrainingPeaks Certified Coach
  • Weekly Updates to your Custom Training Plan
  • 24-Hour Coach Response Time
  • TrainingPeaks Premium Account
  • Workout Analysis with WKO5 Included
  • Cycling, Strength, Running and Swimming Workouts
Get Started!