James Spragg
James Spragg is a sports scientist and coach, working both in research and applied settings. When not working with athletes James can be found skiing, climbing, cycling or drinking coffee!
Alongside Dan Lorang and Peter Leo, James runs Intercept Performance Consultancy. Over the last 8 years in various roles, as coaches, performance consultants, performance managers, and sports scientists, Dan, James and Peter have played a role in helping athletes achieve more than 10 World Championship titles, several Olympics medals (including a Gold and Silver Medal in Tokyo 2020) and several Top 5 results in some of the biggest sporting events on the planet (Tour de France, Olympics, World and European Championships). Our single focus is on improving performance in all settings.
Latest articles by James Spragg
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Ask a coach: 'Why are over-under workouts so hard?'
Here's what's going on inside the body which makes these workouts so tough - plus all the benefits of completing them
By James Spragg Published
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Ask a coach: '15% gradients destroy me, how can I get stronger on the steepest of climbs?'
The reason we all struggle on steep climbs is related to torque - and not power. Here's what you need to focus on instead
By James Spragg Published
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Ask a coach: 'My hands and arms get tired on descents, how can I avoid this?'
What goes up must come down - here's how to stay comfortable on the descents as well as the climbs
By James Spragg Published
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Ask a coach: 'How much should I expect to eat on a 100-mile ride?'
It's important to stay fuelled, but just how much food does that mean you should bring?
By James Spragg Published
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Ask a coach: 'How hot is too hot for cycling?'
Increased temperatures can lead to fatigue and, at worst, illness and injury
By James Spragg Published
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How to get faster on 100 mile bike rides with just 5 hours training a week
Perhaps a surprise, but yes, you can improve your performance on long rides with just five hours a week training - here’s how…
By James Spragg Last updated
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Too much too soon? How to increase your cycling training most efficiently
Stagnation and overtraining are two all too common pitfalls - here’s how to avoid them
By James Spragg Last updated
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Ask a coach: 'What are the most effective workouts for raising FTP?'
A variety of factors determine the maximum power you can put out for an hour - we take you through how to improve each in turn
By James Spragg Published
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Climbing out-the-saddle vs in-the-saddle: pros and cons of each approach
Are there advantages to climbing out of the saddle or is it better to stay seated?
By James Spragg Last updated
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How to get from the couch to 30 miles: 8 tips for kickstarting your cycling
Want to experience life on two wheels, but don't know where to start? Here's our top tips for getting you rolling
By James Spragg Last updated
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Ask a coach: 'Should I be worried about a left/right power imbalance when cycling?'
How left/right power balance is calculated and its accuracy, and when you should consider getting checked out by a physio-trained bike fitter
By James Spragg Published
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Ask a coach: 'What's the best workout for increasing my average speed on a 100-mile bike ride?'
Once you've completed your first 100-mile bike ride, the next goal is to go faster - here's how...
By James Spragg Published
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Is it worth investing in a power meter for endurance riding?
Here’s how power meters and heart rate monitors stack up on longer rides
By James Spragg Last updated
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How to get faster on false-flat climbs and increase the average speed of your rides
Draggy hills aren’t the most inspiring terrain, but they are quite unique in proving a challenge to both lightweight climbers and heavier-set powerhouses - here’s how all riders can improve
By James Spragg Last updated
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Why cycling at middle intensities matters - the gains neglected by HIIT and polarized training
It's easy to understand the benefits of hard sessions and recovery rides offer, but what good does a tempo session really do?
By James Spragg Last updated
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Ask a coach: 'When should I redo an FTP test?'
Your training zones need to reflect any increases in your FTP, but testing too often can have an adverse effect on your progression - here’s how to tread the tightrope
By James Spragg Published
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Recovery ride versus rest day: the pros and cons of each approach
Wondering if you’d be better off resting completely or heading out for a recovery spin? We have the explain the benefits reaped from each approach
By James Spragg Last updated
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Ask a coach: 'How can I adapt my riding to get faster on gravel?'
Is your training sufficiently adapted to the differing demands?
By James Spragg Published
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Ask a coach: 'How do I increase my max power in cycling?'
From clinching sprints to shutting down gaps, a higher peak power provides a raft of benefits
By James Spragg Published
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Ask a coach: 'Can you get fit on an electric bike?'
Harnessed correctly riding an e-bike can actually improve the training process rather than being a cop out as some may think
By James Spragg Published
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Ask a coach: 'I’m over 40, what is a good VO2 max for my age?'
VO2 max measures how much oxygen your body can utilise in a minute - but how does yours compare to the average, and does it matter?
By James Spragg Published
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Ask a coach: 'Do I need carbs as well as protein in my recovery shake?'
What is the optimal post-ride macro-nutrient blend?
By James Spragg Published
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Ask a coach: 'Should I be paying attention to 'Pulse Ox' readings on my Garmin smartwatch?'
So you've bought a fancy smartwatch with data metrics you've never come across before - Pulse Ox being one of them. We take you through what this metric is and how useful its numbers really are
By James Spragg Published
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Ask a coach: 'Why is it easier to hit higher powers uphill?'
It's not a coincidence that your best power numbers were mostly hit on climbs...
By James Spragg Published