Durability in Professional Cyclists: A Field Study

  1. Valenzuela, Pedro L. 23
  2. Alejo, Lidia B. 34
  3. Ozcoidi, Laureano M. 5
  4. Lucia, Alejandro 34
  5. Santalla, Alfredo 1
  6. Barranco-Gil, David 4
  1. 1 Universidad Pablo de Olavide
    info

    Universidad Pablo de Olavide

    Sevilla, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02z749649

  2. 2 Universidad de Alcalá
    info

    Universidad de Alcalá

    Alcalá de Henares, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04pmn0e78

  3. 3 Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre
    info

    Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre

    Madrid, España

  4. 4 Universidad Europea de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Europea de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04dp46240

  5. 5 Caja Rural Professional Team, Navarra, Spain
Mostrar afiliaciones +
Revista:
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

ISSN: 1555-0265,  1555-0273

Año de publicación: 2023

Volumen: 18

Número: 1

Páginas: 99-103

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.1123/IJSPP.2022-0202 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso abierto editor

Otras publicaciones en: International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

Resumen

Purpose: To assess durability in professional cyclists, as well as potential associated indicators. Methods: Twelve male professional cyclists participated in the study (age: 26 [5] y, VO2max: 83.0 [3.6] mL·kg−1·min−1). They performed a 20-minute time trial (TT) on 2 different sessions separated by a 48-hour period: (1) with no previous fatigue (TTFresh) and (2) immediately after a long submaximal ride (approximately 4 h, 40 kJ/kg) (TTFatigue). We then assessed the decay (in percentage) in mean power output (PO) from TTFresh to TTFatigue and its association with different laboratory-based endurance indicators (ventilatory threshold, peak PO, and VO2max) determined through a previous maximal incremental cycling test, as well as with training loads during the 4 weeks preceding the TTs. Results: While no differences were noted in the average heart rate (177 [7] vs 176 [6] beats·min–1, P = .118), there was a significant decay in PO between TTFresh and TTFatigue (386 [29] W vs 375 [28] W [−2.9%], respectively; P = .007), albeit with signs of interindividual variability (range = −8.5% to 1.1%; coefficient of variation = 105%). No significant associations were found between the PO decay and any of the analyzed indicators (all P > .05). Conclusions: Performance is significantly impaired after a certain amount of work completed (approximately 40 kJ·kg–1) in professional cyclists, and the magnitude of this impairment seems to be not related to “traditional” laboratory-based endurance indicators or to markers of training load. These findings might support the need for specifically assessing durability in cyclists and confirming potential determinants of this parameter.

Referencias bibliográficas

  • Joyner MJ, Coyle EF. Endurance exercise performance: the physiology of champions. J Physiol. 2008;586(1):35–44. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2007.14383410.1113/jphysiol.2007.143834
  • Maunder E, Seiler S, Mildenhall MJ, Kilding AE, Plews DJ. The importance of “durability” in the physiological profiling of endurance athletes. Sport Med. 2021;51(8):1619–1628. doi:10.1007/s40279-021-01459-010.1007/s40279-021-01459-0
  • van Erp T, Sanders D, Lamberts RP. Maintaining power output with accumulating levels of work done is a key determinant for success in professional cycling. Med Sci Sport Exerc. 2021;53(9):1903–1910. doi:10.1249/mss.000000000000265610.1249/MSS.0000000000002656
  • Leo P, Spragg J, Mujika I, et al. Power profiling, workload characteristics, and race performance of U23 and professional cyclists during the multistage race tour of the Alps. Int J Sport Physiol Perform. 2021;16(8):1089–1095. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2020-038110.1123/ijspp.2020-0381
  • Muriel X, Valenzuela P, Mateo-March M, Pallarés J, Lucia A, Barranco-Gil D. Physical demands and performance indicators in male professional cyclists during a grand tour: WorldTour vs ProTeam category. Int J Sport Physiol Perform. 2022;17(1):22–30. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2021-008210.1123/ijspp.2021-0082
  • Mateo-March M, Valenzuela PL, Muriel X, et al. The record power profile of male professional cyclists: fatigue matters. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2022;17(6):926–931. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2021-040310.1123/ijspp.2021-0403
  • Muriel X, Mateo-March M, Valenzuela PL, et al. Durability and repeatability of professional cyclists during a Grand Tour. Eur J Sport Sci.1–8. Published online October 24, 2021. doi:10.1080/17461391.2021.1987528
  • Leo P, Giorgi A, Spragg J, Gonzalez BM, Mujika I. Impact of prior accumulated work and intensity on power output in elite/international level road cyclists—a pilot study. Ger J Exerc Sport Res. 2022;52:673–677. doi:10.1007/s12662-022-00818-x10.1007/s12662-022-00818-x
  • Iannetta D, Inglis EC, Fullerton C, Passfield L, Murias JM. Metabolic and performance-related consequences of exercising at and slightly above MLSS. Scand J Med Sci Sport. 2018;28(12):2481–2493. doi:10.1111/sms.1328010.1111/sms.13280
  • Fullerton M, Passfield L, MacInnis M, Iannetta D, Murias J. Prior exercise impairs subsequent performance in an intensity- and duration-dependent manner. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2021;46(8):976–985. doi:10.1139/apnm-2020-068910.1139/apnm-2020-0689
  • Kesisoglou A, Nicolò A, Passfield L. Cycling performance and training load: effects of intensity and duration. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2021;16(4):535–543. doi:10.1123/IJSPP.2020-007210.1123/ijspp.2020-0072
  • Kesisoglou A, Nicoló A, Howland L, Passfield L. Continuous versus intermittent running: acute performance decrement and training load. Int J Sport Physiol Perform. 2021;16(12):1794–1803. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2020-084410.1123/ijspp.2020-0844
  • Lillo-Bevia J, Pallarés J. Validity and reliability of the cycleops hammer cycle ergometer. Int J Sport Physiol Perform. 2018;13(7):853–859. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2017-040310.1123/ijspp.2017-0403
  • Lucía A, Hoyos J, Pérez M, Chicharro JL. Heart rate and performance parameters in elite cyclists: a longitudinal study. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32(10):1777–1782. doi:10.1097/00005768-200010000-0001810.1097/00005768-200010000-00018
  • MacInnis MJ, Thomas ACQ, Phillips SM. The reliability of 4-minute and 20-minute time trials and their relationships to functional threshold power in trained cyclists. Int J Sport Physiol Perform. 2019;14(1):38–45. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2018-010010.1123/ijspp.2018-0100
  • Passfield L, Murias JM, Sacchetti M, Nicolò A. Validity of the training-load concept. Int J Sport Physiol Perform. 2022;17(4):507–514. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2021-053610.1123/ijspp.2021-0536
  • Spragg J, Leo P, Swart J. The relationship between training characteristics and durability in professional cyclists across a competitive season. Eur J Sport Sci. 1–10. Published online May 2, 2022. doi:10.1080/17461391.2022.2049886
  • Passfield L, Doust JH. Changes in cycling efficiency and performance after endurance exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32(11):1935–1941. doi:10.1097/00005768-200011000-0001810.1097/00005768-200011000-00018