Training Characteristics of Male and Female Professional Road Cyclists: A 4-Year Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the training intensity and load characteristics of professional cyclists using a 4-year retrospective analysis. Particularly, this study aimed to describe the differences in training characteristics between men and women professional cyclists. Method: For 4 consecutive years, training data were collected from 20 male and 10 female professional cyclists. From those training sessions, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and power output (PO) were analyzed. Training intensity distribution as time spent in different heart rate and PO zones was quantified. Training load was calculated using different metrics such as Training Stress Score, training impulse, and session rating of perceived exertion. Standardized effect size is reported as Cohen’s d. Results: Small to large higher values were observed for distance, duration, kilojoules spent, and (relative) mean PO in men’s training (d = 0.44–1.98). Furthermore, men spent more time in low-intensity zones (ie, zones 1 and 2) compared with women. Trivial differences in training load (ie, Training Stress Score and training impulse) were observed between men’s and women’s training (d = 0.07–0.12). However, load values expressed per kilometer were moderately (d = 0.67–0.76) higher in women compared with men’s training. Conclusions: Substantial differences in training characteristics exist between male and female professional cyclists. Particularly, it seems that female professional cyclists compensate their lower training volume, with a higher training intensity, in comparison with male professional cyclists.

Training Characteristics and Power Profile of Professional U23 Cyclists throughout a Competitive Season

“…The power profile [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] and training characteristics [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ] of professional cyclists have been well documented in previous research. Depending on the rider type (sprinter, time trialist, allrounder or climber), professional cyclists require high absolute and relative power outputs over short (1 s to 5 min) to long durations (5 min to >4 h), at various levels of acute and chronic fatigue [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Additionally, the organization of training can be described using training intensity distribution (TID) [ 17 ]. Training volume and TID have been documented in U23 [ 18 ] and professional cyclists [ 5 , 8 , 9 , 19 ], but the relationship between changes in training characteristics and changes in the power profile has not yet been investigated.…”

Climbing Performance in U23 and Professional Cyclists during a Multi-stage Race

“…Climbers have lower body mass values and body surface area compared to flat terrain specialists. Relative maximal power outputs are also higher in climbers whereas flat specialists recorded higher absolute values [10,20]. Pinot and Grappe [8] developed a phenotype specific absolute and relative record power profile for durations of 1 s to 4 h. They showed that sprinters can produce high absolute power outputs between 1 s to 2 min, whereas climbers produce higher relative power outputs for 5 min to 1 h. In mountainous stage races such as the cycling grand tours [20,21] (i. e. Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta a España) climbing performance has been identified as a key component of success.…”

“…The physiological requirements and performance characteristics of professional cycling are well described [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10], but there is both a paucity and discrepancies in the information on how these parameters compare with those of U23 cyclists. For instance, Zapico et al [11] found comparable maximum oxygen uptake values (VO 2max ) and maximum aerobic power (MAP) between U23 and professional cyclists from laboratory tests.…”

The Use of a Smartphone Application in Monitoring HRV during an Altitude Training Camp in Professional Female Cyclists: A Preliminary Study

“…To note is that this population had previous experience in altitude training camps and previous research has shown that this experience may produce lesser disturbances in the athletes’ body. Furthermore, this population usually performed a large volume of training with high proportions of high intensity training [ 38 ]. This fact may cause that the response to the additional stress imposed by altitude is not enough to produce changes in HRV when the TL remained similar (no increases and decreases in the TL) as in this study, especially in moderate altitudes in which the training camps for endurance athletes took place (1800–2500 m).…”