The Validity of Functional Threshold Power and Maximal Oxygen Uptake for Cycling Performance in Moderately Trained Cyclists

Abstract

Cycling is a popular sport, and evaluation of the validity of tests to predict performance in competitions is important for athletes and coaches. Similarity between performance in sprints in mass-start bike races and in the laboratory is found, but, to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the relationship between laboratory measurements of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and functional threshold power (FTP) with performance in official mass-start competitions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of a 20 min FTP test and VO2max as predictors for performance in an official mountain bike competition. Eleven moderately trained male cyclists at a local level participated in this study (age: 43 ± 5.1 years; height: 183.4 ± 5.4 m; weight: 84.4 ± 8.7 kg; body mass index: 25.1 ± 2.1). All subjects performed a 20 min FTP test in the laboratory to measure the mean power. In addition, the subjects completed an incremental test to exhaustion to determine VO2max. These two laboratory tests were analyzed together with the results from a 47 km mass-start mountain bike race, with a total elevation of 851 m. A significant relationship was found between the mean relative power (W/kg) for the 20 min FTP test and performance time in the race (r = −0.74, P < 0.01). No significant correlation was found between VO2max and cycling performance for these subjects (r = −0.37). These findings indicate that a 20 min FTP test is a more valid test for prediction of performance in mass-start bike races than a VO2max test for moderately trained cyclists.

Indicators of response to exercise training: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…30 Our findings concerning LT are partially in accordance with a recent cohort study in eleven moderately trained cyclists which determined that PO exhibited a more pronounced relationship with athletic performance than VO 2max . 71 Our inconclusive outcome concerning LT appears to contradict earlier work, where a moderate positive correlation (r 2 =0.39, p<0.05) was inferred from a Open access prior cohort study assessing the effect of END in sedentary males. 72 Additional studies demonstrated similar outcomes-Yan et al conducted a multicentre study where they sought to recruit 200 individuals, to determine the response to one session of HIIT and 4 weeks of HIIT.…”

Investigation of the pedaling forces in a cycling field test using the non-linear measure ML1

“…Power output during cycling is subject to large variations between each crank rotation. Finding the best or most comfortable power level for a cyclist requires at least testing the functional threshold power (FTP), 22,23 which makes it a less suitable input parameter for controlling e-bike propulsions.…”

Relationship Between the Critical Power Test and a 20-min Functional Threshold Power Test in Cycling

“…The FTP is defined as "the highest power that a rider can maintain in a quasi-steady state without fatiguing for approximately 1 hour" (Allen and Coggan, 2010), and has become widely popular amongst recreational and competitive cyclists for the purpose of aerobic capacity assessment and training prescription. However, to-date there is controversy as to whether FTP is related to CP or parameters of other threshold concepts (e.g., lactate landmarks or ventilatory thresholds) (Denham et al, 2017;Borszcz et al, 2018;Valenzuela et al, 2018;Sorensen et al, 2019). For example, Valenzuela et al (2018) found non-significant differences between FTP and the second anaerobic threshold (AnT2) using the D max method.…”