In endurance sports such as cycling, running uphill, and triathlon, power-to-weight ratio (W/kg) is one of the most important metrics. It determines how efficiently an athlete can produce power relative to their body mass, and is a key predictor of climbing ability and overall performance.
A higher W/kg means an athlete can sustain more watts for each kilogram of body weight, which is especially important in uphill efforts and long endurance races. While flat terrain favors absolute power, climbing almost exclusively rewards those with a higher ratio. Thatโs why elite climbers in professional cycling often have values above 6 W/kg at threshold.
| Category | FTP (W/kg) |
|---|---|
| Recreational Cyclist | 2.0 โ 2.5 |
| Good Amateur | 3.0 โ 3.9 |
| Strong Amateur / Semi-Pro | 4.0 โ 4.9 |
| Professional Cyclist | 5.0 โ 5.9 |
| World-Class Climber | 6.0 โ 6.5+ |
| Athlete | Era/Event | Estimated W/kg |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Froome | Tour de France (climbs) | ~6.0 |
| Tadej Pogaฤar | Tour de France | ~6.2 |
| Egan Bernal | Tour de France | ~6.0 |
| Miguel Indurain | 1990s | ~5.5 |
| Marianne Vos | Pro cycling (multi-discipline) | ~5.2 |
| Annemiek van Vleuten | Women's Tour | ~5.5 |