Originally Posted by
asgelle
I've written about the Monod model before and pacing strategy is just another application. The model consists of a critical power, Cp, that can be maintained for a long time, and anaerobic work capacity which is the amount of work that is available above and beyond that from critical power. The simplest treatment to optimize pacing strategy is to take Cp as the minimum power produced over the course of the TT and then add power over Cp up to the limit of AWC so as to minimize time. The next level of complication is to allow a recovery of AWC during periods when power is lower than Cp. To do so however requires some model of the rate of replenishment of AWC as a function of power below Cp and time. I'm currently not familiar with a simple model for this, though.
IIRC, Monod starts to break down at durations < ~3 minutes. Most TT courses are going to have elevation features that take less than that to traverse, which might present a problem.
Hmm, maybe base it off a rider's current MMP curve, assuring that the pacing strategy's MMP curve stays under it, using AP for the first 5 minutes and NP from 5 minutes +.
Also, ElJ, I think you're going to have to include wind, not just elevation in the algorithm, as it's a pretty serious consideration for optimizing pacing. Have you seen Kraig Willet's article and Ron Ruff's spreadsheet? Might be interesting to you. The only time I've worked out a pacing strategy, I used Ruff's spreadsheet with the addition of an NP calculation.