Power Road-Derived Physical Performance Parameters in Junior, Under-23, and Professional Road Cycling Climbers

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship of field-derived power and physical performance parameters with competition success in road cycling climbing specialists of age-related categories and to explore cross-sectional differences between high-ranked (HIGHR) climbing specialists of each category. Methods: Fifty-three male climbers participated in this study (junior [JUN], n = 15; under 23 [U23], n = 21; professional [PRO], n = 17). Training and racing data collected during the 2016–19 competitive seasons were retrospectively analyzed for record power outputs (RPOs) and RPOs after prior accumulated work. Results: In JUN, body mass, absolute RPOs, and relative RPOs were higher in HIGHR compared with low ranked (d = 0.97–2.20, large; P = .097–.001); in U23 and PRO, the percentage decrease in RPOs after 20, 30, 40, and 50 kJ·kg−1 was less in HIGHR compared with low ranked (d = 0.77–1.74, moderate–large; P = .096–.004). JUN HIGHR presented lower absolute and relative RPO-20 min (, large; P = .099–.001) and higher percentage decrease in RPOs after prior accumulated work compared with U23 and PRO HIGHR (, large; P = .060–.001); percentage decrease in RPOs after prior accumulated work was the only parameter differentiating U23 and PRO HIGHR, with PRO declining less in relative RPO-1 min, RPO-5 min, and RPO-20 min after 20 to 50 kJ·kg−1 (, large; P = .090–.001). Conclusions: Superior absolute and relative RPOs characterize HIGHR JUN climbing specialists. Superior fatigue resistance differentiates HIGHR U23 and PRO climbers compared with low ranked, as well as PRO versus U23 climbers.

Development of Cycling Performance-Variables and Durability in Female and Male National Team Cyclists: From Junior to Senior

“…Despite spending more energy before the 5-min test, both seniors and U23 performed better than juniors in absolute power output, with a similar trend found for mean power output expressed relatively to body mass (age-group P = 0.055). This indicates an improved durability with age, which is in line with field-derived power data on development of outdoor performance from junior cyclists to professionals (40). The common improvements in performance level as a cyclist matures seem to be related to improved durability, which can be detected already after ~15–20 kJ·kg −1 of energy spent when using a highly standardized laboratory setting.…”

Changes in running economy and attainable maximal oxygen consumption in response to prolonged running: The impact of training status

“…Field data from elite cyclists indicate that resilience may continue to increase up to the highest levels, with even more extensive and long-term exposure to endurance training. 17 On the lower end of the scale, the magnitude and type of training required to induce improvements in physiological resilience have yet to be explored, beyond the fact that the training exposure of TR in the current study appears to be sufficient to improve resilience.…”

“…On the other hand, field data from elite cycling suggests that the ability to produce high wattage in a fatigued state is a characteristic that separates professional road cyclists from elite under 23 and junior cyclists. 17 The purpose of the present study was therefore to investigate whether the ability to resist changes in VO 2max and RE is different between trained and untrained runners, when tested before and after 1 h of running at 70% of VO 2max . Specifically, we hypothesized that (1) the ability to resist changes in RE would be superior in trained versus untrained runners, and (2) the ability to resist changes in VO 2max would be superior in trained versus untrained runners.…”

How do world class top 5 Giro d'Italia finishers train? A qualitative multiple case study

“…In the last years, there has been a rapid increase in the capacity to capture real-time data through portable mechanical power meters. This has led to a deeper understanding of both race demands [2][3][4] and parameters associated with competition outcomes in road cycling 4,5 . However, there is a paucity of study reporting training characteristics of professional road cyclists with only few studies reporting the professional cyclists training data as a mean of the sample considered [6][7][8] .…”

“…This has led to a deeper understanding of both race demands 2 , 3 , 4 and parameters associated with competition outcomes in road cycling. 4 , 5 However, there is a paucity of study reporting training characteristics of professional road cyclists with only few studies reporting the professional cyclists training data as a mean of the sample considered. 6 , 7 , 8 To the best of our knowledge, no study has reported the individual day‐to‐day training and racing data of world‐class road cyclists preceding an important competition, as it has already been done in recent studies in world class endurance athletes.…”