Relation between Peak Power Output in Sprint Cycling and Maximum Voluntary Isometric Torque Production

Abstract

From a cycling paradigm, little has been done to understand the relationships between maximal isometric strength of different single joint lower body muscle groups and their relation with, and ability to predict PPO and how they compare to an isometric cycling specific task. The aim of this study was to establish relationships between maximal voluntary torque production from isometric single-joint and cycling specific tasks and assess their ability to predict PPO. Twenty male trained cyclists participated in this study. Peak torque was measured by performing maximum voluntary contractions (MVC) of knee extensors, knee flexors, dorsi flexors and hip extensors whilst instrumented cranks measured isometric peak torque from MVC when participants were in their cycling specific position (ISOCYC). A stepwise regression showed that peak torque of the knee extensors was the only significant predictor of PPO when using SJD and accounted for 47% of the variance. However, when compared to ISOCYC, the only significant predictor of PPO was ISOCYC, which accounted for 77% of the variance. This suggests that peak torque of the knee extensors was the best single-joint predictor of PPO in sprint cycling. Furthermore, a stronger prediction can be made from a task specific isometric task.

Cycling‐specific isometric resistance training improves peak power output in elite sprint cyclists

“…Cycling‐specific resistance training requires athletes to execute maximum isometric muscle actions in cycling‐specific positions; because of the mode of muscle action, this approach affords cyclists an opportunity to develop maximum levels of force at cycling‐specific joint angles and reduces the requirement to handle very heavy loads typical of traditional isoinertial training. We have previously demonstrated a very strong association between maximal torque production during a cycling‐specific isometric task and cycling PPO 11 ; this finding raises the possibility that improving cycling‐specific isometric strength might offer a positive transfer to cycling PPO. Maximum isometric strength training has previously been demonstrated to result in rapid improvements in maximum strength, but adaptations are specific to the joint angle 12‐14 and range of motion 15 at which training is performed.…”

Mechanical and morphological determinants of peak power output in elite cyclists

“…BMX riders had experience in riding road, and track bikes were set‐up to their track or road bike position fitted which was typical to a track cycling set‐up when assuming the dropped handle bar position (ie, closed hip angle, flat back parallel with the floor, and bent arms). The ergometer could be made isometric, as previously used . Before the cyclist mounted the ergometer, bib shorts were pulled up to expose their thighs in order to allow mid‐thigh to be measured and marked.…”

“…The original cranks were replaced with 170 mm instrumented cranks to record instantaneous torque, crank angle, and angular velocity directly as raw data for both right and left crank arms (Factor Cranks, BF1 Systems), which were sampled at 200 Hz with a separate, wireless electronic data logger (BF1 Systems). Torque and power were measured over each revolution and were processed offline as previously done . Raw data recorded from the cranks onto the wireless data logger were imported into Spike2 and analyzed offline using custom scripts to calculate mean torque, power, and cadence per revolution from TDC to TDC.…”

“…However, previous work has examined relatively crude estimates of muscle mass/volume (eg, based on tape measures of superficial anthropometry that are not muscle group specific) in relation to sprint cycling performance . Of the lower limb muscle groups, strength of the knee extensors appears to be the best predictor of cycling PPO, and thus, accurate assessment of quadriceps femoris muscle volume, for example, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the gold standard technique, might be expected to be a key determinant of PPO.…”

Reliability of traditional and task specific reference tasks to assess peak muscle activation during two different sprint cycling tests

“…Single-joint, unilateral isometric (ISO-SINGJT) MVCs were performed using a calibrated dynamometer. Participants performed the MVCs seated and strapped across the hips and chest in the sagittal plane, in four different positions as previously performed by Kordi et al (2017), these were selected because these joint angles were described as the angle of peak torque production for each muscle group (Ericson, 1986;Rouffet and Hautier, 2008). These…”