Power Output During a Professional Men’s Road-Cycling Tour

Ebert, Tammie R.; Martin, David T.; Stephens, Brian; Withers, R. T.

doi:10.1123/ijspp.1.4.324

Cited by 76 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Recording distance, time, speed, and HR during racing, and based on individual HR-power output curves and exercise intensity thresholds previously determined in the laboratory, they estimated competition power outputs and quantified TRIMPs during short and long individual and team time trials 42 ; flat, semimountainous, and high-mountain stages 43 ; second, first, and off-category mountain passes 44 ; and assessed the physiological and performance capacities of professional road cyclists in relation to their morphotype-dependent specialty. 41,45 The advent of portable power measuring devices allowed a direct determination of the external load during cycling racing (ie, power output), 46 and this type of measurement can conveniently be carried out in parallel with markers of internal load (eg, HR, RPE) to make fitness and fatigue assessments. 8 Continuing on with their assessment of the relationships between external load, internal load and competition performance, Mujika et al 47,48 carried out 2 consecutive experimental studies of potential performance enhancement by way of manipulating training variables during the taper in well-trained middle-distance runners.…”

Section: Relating External Load Internal Load and Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of Training and Competition Loads in Endurance Sports: Methods and Applications

Mujika¹

2017

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

114

106

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Training quantification is basic to evaluate an endurance athlete's responses to training loads, ensure adequate stress/recovery balance, and determine the relationship between training and performance. Quantifying both external and internal workload is important, because external workload does not measure the biological stress imposed by the exercise sessions. Generally used quantification methods include retrospective questionnaires, diaries, direct observation, and physiological monitoring, often based on the measurement of oxygen uptake, heart rate, and blood lactate concentration. Other methods in use in endurance sports include speed measurement and the measurement of power output, made possible by recent technological advances such as power meters in cycling and triathlon. Among subjective methods of quantification, rating of perceived exertion stands out because of its wide use. Concurrent assessments of the various quantification methods allow researchers and practitioners to evaluate stress/ recovery balance, adjust individual training programs, and determine the relationships between external load, internal load, and athletes' performance. This brief review summarizes the most relevant external-and internal-workload-quantification methods in endurance sports and provides practical examples of their implementation to adjust the training programs of elite athletes in accordance with their individualized stress/recovery balance. Keywords: external load, internal load, intensity, monitoring, training adaptationTraining is a process whereby athletes are exposed to systematic and repetitive exercise stimuli with the goal of inducing adaptations matched to a desirable function, such as delaying the onset of fatigue, increasing power output, refining motor coordination, or reducing the risk of injury. Coaches and trainers generally consider that the outcome of the training process depends on the type and amount of the stimulus, and understanding this cause-and-effect relationship between training dose and response is crucial to prescribe exercise training accordingly. 1 Nevertheless, to analyze and establish causal relationships between the training performed and the resultant physiological and performance adaptations, accurate and reliable quantification of the training load undertaken by the athlete is a sine qua non. It is simply not possible to identify the effects of training without a precise quantification of the training load. 2 This is the reason why several sport-science experts have previously underlined the importance of proper training quantification. For instance, Pollock 3 highlighted that many investigators reported their results without quantifying their training procedures, and with no mention of energy cost, heartrate intensity, miles covered, and so on. Along the same lines, Hopkins 4 indicated that with the links between training and outcomes such as performance and injury being so strong, it is surprising that the methodology of measurement of training has not been a focus of attention i...

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Section: Relating External Load Internal Load and Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of Training and Competition Loads in Endurance Sports: Methods and Applications

Mujika¹

2017

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

114

106

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The external workload in professional male cyclists has been previously described during road racing [2][3][4][5][6] and training. 7 While these studies add to a wealth of knowledge on external workload, the within-season distribution of workload during both training and racing is not well understood.…”

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confidence: 99%

Within-Season Distribution of External Training and Racing Workload in Professional Male Road Cyclists

Metcalfe¹,

Menaspà²,

Villerius³

et al. 2017

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

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Purpose:To describe the within-season external workloads of professional male road cyclists for optimal training prescription. Methods: Training and racing of 4 international competitive professional male cyclists (age 24 ± 2 y, body mass 77.6 ± 1.5 kg) were monitored for 12 mo before the world team-time-trial championships. Three within-season phases leading up to the team-time-trial world championships on September 20, 2015, were defined as phase 1 (Oct-Jan), phase 2 (Feb-May), and phase 3 (June-Sept). Distance and time were compared between training and racing days and over each of the various phases. Times spent in absolute (<100, 100-300, 400-500, >500 W) and relative (0-1.9, 2.0-4.9, 5.0-7.9, >8 W/kg) power zones were also compared for the whole season and between phases 1-3. Results: Total distance (3859 ± 959 vs 10911 ± 620 km) and time (240.5 ± 37.5 vs 337.5 ± 26 h) were lower (P < .01) in phase 1 than phase 2. Total distance decreased (P < .01) from phase 2 to phase 3 (10911 ± 620 vs 8411 ± 1399 km, respectively). Mean absolute (236 ± 12.1 vs 197 ± 3 W) and relative (3.1 ± 0 vs 2.5 ± 0 W/kg) power output were higher (P < .05) during racing than training, respectively. Conclusion: Volume and intensity differed between training and racing over each of 3 distinct within-season phases. Keywords: time trial, power output, SRM Powermeter, training loadUnderstanding the external workload demands of professional road cyclists is necessary to optimize training, reduce the risk of injury, and diagnose symptoms of overtraining. 1 The use of power meters during professional cycling races and training allows for multiple external load measurements to be instantaneously collected during a ride.Athletes and sports scientists commonly analyze these measurements to assess performance and to aid in their decision-making processes.The external workload in professional male cyclists has been previously described during road racing 2-6 and training. 7 While these studies add to a wealth of knowledge on external workload, the within-season distribution of workload during both training and racing is not well understood. Indeed, such research is limited to a detailed 50-week account of a world-class female triathlete in preparation for the Olympic-distance triathlon event. 8 Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the within-season distribution of external workload in 4 professional road cyclists throughout a cycling season and preparing for the world team-time-trial championships.

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“…Although the cycling assumed to be an endurance sport, the ability to achieve a high maximum power during a short period of time is an important component of success in road cycling competitions (Ebert et al, 2006;Jeukendrup et al, 2000). Maximal cycling power output largely depends on external factors like bicycle set up (Gonzalez and Hull, 1989;Too, 1990 Number of studies have found a notable asymmetry in the bilateral kinetics patterns of the pedalling like a crank torque (Carpes et al, 2007;Bini & Hume, 2014), different pedal force components (Daly & Cavanagh, 1976;Sanderson et al, 1991;Smak et al, 1999) and pedal power output (Smak et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sprint cycling performance and asymmetry

Rannama

Port

Bazanov

et al. 2015

jhse

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Rannama, I., Port, K., Bazanov, B., & Pedak, K. (2015). Sprint cycling performance and asymmetry. J. Hum. Sport Exerc., 9(Proc1), pp.S247-S258. The purpose of this study was to examine the asymmetries in cyclist's lower limbs strength and in the pedalling kinematics during a seated sprinting test and to identify the relationships between asymmetries and maximal cycling power. 16 competitive road cyclists (20.6±3.7 yrs., 181.5±5.0 cm, 74.8±7.0 kg) performed 10 Sec isokinetic maximum power test with cadence 120 RPM. The asymmetry of kinematic patterns of cyclist's upper and lower body during pedalling was registered. Separately isokinetic peak torque (PT) of main lover limbs joint were measured at angular speeds 60, 180 and 240 /s. The differences in kinematic patterns and isokinetic PT values between two limbs were analysed for descriptive and inferential statistics (relative share in %, correlations and regression between asymmetry values and cycling power). Conclusion: The highest asymmetries were found in cyclist's upper body kinematics and at the same time the most symmetrical were knee extensors strength values, but both parameters were negatively and significantly correlated with the performance of sprint cycling. By combining the leg extensors muscular strength with asymmetry of knee extensors strength and trunk kinematics the explanatory power of multiple regressions increased markedly from 0.68 to 0.92.

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Power Output During a Professional Men’s Road-Cycling Tour

Cited by 76 publications

References 23 publications

Quantification of Training and Competition Loads in Endurance Sports: Methods and Applications

Quantification of Training and Competition Loads in Endurance Sports: Methods and Applications

Within-Season Distribution of External Training and Racing Workload in Professional Male Road Cyclists

Sprint cycling performance and asymmetry

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