Garmin Format
TCX stands for Training Center XML, a format originally created by Garmin for structured training data.
Broad Support
Strava, TrainingPeaks, Wahoo, and other training workflows commonly understand TCX imports.
Richer Data
TCX can carry route points and workout metrics together, which is why it is often chosen over a plain route file.
What is a TCX file?
TCX stands for Training Center XML. Garmin introduced the format for training activities that need more structure than a simple GPS path. A TCX file can describe the route of a ride or run, but it can also include timestamps, distance progression, lap logic, heart rate, cadence, and power information.
That richer structure is exactly why TCX is still widely used in Strava, TrainingPeaks, and Wahoo-related workflows. When the destination platform expects a real activity rather than only a route line, TCX gives you more control over how the workout is represented after import. If you are still comparing formats, ForgePace also breaks down the difference in this GPX vs TCX guide.
Why generate a custom TCX file?
The most common reason is correction. Sometimes the original export is incomplete, the timestamps are broken, or the workout recorded with gaps. Generating a fresh TCX file lets you rebuild the activity with cleaner route data and more consistent metrics.
It is also useful when you forgot to record the session at all and need to create a believable activity file afterward, or when you want to prepare a route on a planned course before the effort actually happens. If the next step is upload, this Strava upload guide covers the import flow.
How to generate a TCX file with ForgePace
ForgePace is built for athletes who need a fast TCX file creator without wrestling with raw XML. Start in the TCX generator, choose the location where the route should begin, set the duration, and select the activity type. From there, you can shape the export around the workout you want Strava to read.
The goal is simple: download a file that looks like a real activity, not a thin placeholder. That means keeping the route plausible, the timestamps ordered correctly, and the performance data aligned with the session. Once the file is ready, save it locally and upload it to Strava from the desktop import flow.
Step 1
Choose a starting location or planned route so the file has believable geography from the first point.
Step 2
Set the duration and activity type to match the ride or run you want to build.
Step 3
Add the metrics that matter for analysis, including heart rate, cadence, and watts when relevant.
Step 4
Download the finished TCX file and import it into Strava through the manual upload flow.
Precise GPS track
The route should follow a plausible path with evenly spaced points instead of abrupt jumps or duplicate coordinates.
Sensor metrics that make sense
Heart rate, cadence, and power values should align with the activity type and effort level so the activity looks coherent after import.
Correct timestamps
Every point needs a valid time progression. Broken or repeated timestamps are one of the fastest ways to create import problems on Strava.
What to Check Before Uploading to Strava
Before you upload any generated TCX file, review the basics the same way you would review an export from a watch or bike computer. The activity type should match the workout, the route should stay on plausible roads or paths, and the elapsed time should support the distance shown in the file. These checks are simple, but they help Strava and other training platforms parse the file as a coherent activity instead of a malformed import.
Also look at the metrics you include. Heart rate, cadence, and power are useful only when they make sense for the sport and effort level. A clean TCX export should connect the route, timestamps, and training data into one consistent record, which is why ForgePace keeps the generation workflow focused on realistic activity structure rather than raw XML editing.
FAQ
Can I upload a TCX file directly to Strava?
Yes. Strava accepts TCX files through its manual upload flow on the web, which makes TCX a useful format when you need to import a legitimate workout that was saved outside the Strava app. A well-formed TCX file should include consistent timestamps, route points, distance progression, and any workout metrics you want Strava to read after upload.
Is TCX better than GPX for Strava?
TCX is usually better when you want more than route geometry. GPX is excellent for a path on a map, but TCX can keep timestamps, laps, heart rate, cadence, watts, and distance fields attached to the activity. If your goal is a complete Strava import with training context, TCX is normally the stronger starting point.
What data does a TCX file contain?
A TCX file can contain GPS coordinates, timestamps, distance, pace progression, laps, heart rate, cadence, and power fields depending on how the file is generated. The most useful files keep those values synchronized so each track point tells a coherent story: where the athlete was, when they were there, and how the effort changed during the workout.
Why would I create a custom TCX file?
Common reasons include recovering a workout that did not record correctly, rebuilding an activity from another source, or preparing a route-based training file before analysis. A custom TCX file is most useful when you want the final upload to be organized, readable, and complete instead of manually typing activity notes with no route or metric structure.
Ready to Build?
Create a custom TCX file and move it into Strava
ForgePace helps you create realistic activity files without needing the original recording device. Start with the generator, then come back to the homepage for the broader workflow and format tools.