If you’ve recently started using Xert, you’ve probably come across the term Breakthrough. It appears after certain rides and often results in changes to your Fitness Signature, but exactly what does it mean?
Many cyclists assume a breakthrough is something you should aim for every week. Others worry if they haven’t had one for a while.
The truth is a little different.
In this guide, I’ll explain what a Xert Breakthrough is, why it happens, how it’s calculated and whether you should actually be chasing them.
What Is an Xert Breakthrough?
A Breakthrough is Xert’s way of recognising that your recent ride has demonstrated a higher level of fitness than your current Fitness Signature predicts.
Rather than relying on scheduled FTP tests, Xert continually analyses your ride data.
If your power output exceeds what Xert believes you’re currently capable of, the software updates your Fitness Signature automatically.
In simple terms:
A breakthrough means Xert has enough evidence that you’ve become fitter.
Why Does Xert Use Breakthroughs?
Traditional training systems rely on occasional FTP tests.
Xert takes a different approach.
Every ride becomes an opportunity to update your fitness.
Instead of asking:
“Can you ride at threshold for 20 minutes?”
Xert asks:
“Has today’s ride shown evidence that you’re stronger than before?”
If the answer is yes, you receive a Breakthrough.
This adaptive approach means your training zones evolve naturally without having to schedule formal fitness tests every few weeks.
How Does Xert Decide You’ve Had a Breakthrough?
Xert analyses every second of your ride.
It considers:
- Your sustained power
- High-intensity efforts
- Sprint power
- Recovery between efforts
- Overall ride quality
If your performance exceeds your current Fitness Signature with sufficient confidence, Xert records a Breakthrough.
You don’t need to ride at maximum effort for the entire ride.
Sometimes a well-paced interval session is enough.
Does a Breakthrough Change Your FTP?
Not exactly.
Xert doesn’t use FTP in the traditional sense.
Instead, it maintains three key values:
- Threshold Power (TP) – your sustainable power.
- High Intensity Energy (HIE) – your anaerobic capacity.
- Peak Power (PP) – your maximum sprint power.
Together these make up your Fitness Signature.
A breakthrough may increase one, two or all three values depending on what your ride demonstrated.
Should You Try to Get a Breakthrough Every Week?
No.
This is probably the biggest misunderstanding among new Xert users.
A breakthrough is evidence of improved fitness.
It isn’t the goal itself.
Trying to force breakthroughs every few days usually leads to:
- Excessive fatigue
- Poor recovery
- Inconsistent training
- Reduced performance
The best athletes focus on consistent training.
The breakthroughs arrive naturally.
Why Haven’t I Had a Breakthrough?
There are several perfectly normal reasons.
You may:
- Be in a recovery week.
- Be following endurance-focused training.
- Already have an accurate Fitness Signature.
- Be improving in ways that don’t yet justify an update.
Not receiving breakthroughs doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not getting fitter.
Can You Force a Breakthrough?
Technically yes.
Practically, you probably shouldn’t.
Repeated all-out efforts simply to trigger a breakthrough often produce more fatigue than useful training.
A much better strategy is to:
- Follow your training plan.
- Recover properly.
- Ride consistently.
- Let Xert update your Fitness Signature when the evidence is there.
An Example
Imagine your current Threshold Power is 250 watts.
During a structured interval session, you complete several sustained efforts at 260–265 watts while maintaining good power throughout the workout.
Xert analyses the ride and determines that your current Threshold Power is underestimated.
The next time you sync your ride, Xert awards a Breakthrough and updates your Fitness Signature.
No dedicated FTP test required.
Common Misconceptions
“No breakthrough means I’m not improving.”
Not true.
Fitness improvements are rarely perfectly linear.
Some weeks are about building endurance rather than demonstrating higher power.
“More breakthroughs are always better.”
Again, no.
Consistent training is far more important than collecting breakthroughs.
“I should test every week.”
One of Xert’s strengths is reducing the need for formal testing.
If you’re training consistently, the software usually updates itself.
Final Thoughts
One of the reasons many cyclists enjoy using Xert is that it removes much of the guesswork from training.
Instead of interrupting your season with repeated FTP tests, Xert quietly analyses every ride and updates your Fitness Signature when you’ve genuinely improved.
Think of a breakthrough as confirmation that your training is working—not as something you need to chase.
Focus on riding consistently, recovering well and trusting the process. The breakthroughs will come naturally.
Conclusion
A Xert Breakthrough isn’t a badge to collect—it’s simply Xert recognising that you’ve demonstrated a higher level of fitness than before. If you understand what triggers a breakthrough and why it matters, you’ll spend less time worrying about your numbers and more time focusing on productive training.