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A Rapidly Incremented Tethered-Swimming Maximal Protocol for Cardiorespiratory Assessment of Swimmers

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Published on: January 28, 2020

Changes in cycling efficiency during a competitive season.

James Hopker¹, Damian Coleman, Louis Passfield

¹Centre for Sports Studies, University of Kent, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent, United Kingdom. j.g.hopker@kent.ac.uk

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

|March 12, 2009

Summary

Training impacts gross efficiency (GE) in cyclists throughout a competitive season. Higher training volume and intensity, particularly between lactate threshold and onset of blood lactate accumulation, improve GE.

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Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise

Determining the Contribution of the Energy Systems During Exercise

Published on: March 20, 2012

Area of Science:

Exercise Physiology
Sports Science
Cycling Performance

Background:

Gross efficiency (GE) is a key determinant of endurance performance.
Understanding how training affects GE throughout a competitive season is crucial for optimizing performance.

Purpose of the Study:

To monitor training-related changes in gross efficiency (GE) over the course of a competitive cycling season.
To investigate the relationship between training characteristics and GE fluctuations.

Main Methods:

Fourteen trained cyclists underwent five laboratory tests during their competitive season.
Measurements included lactate threshold (LT), onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), maximal minute power (Wmax), and GE.
Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Pearson's correlation.

Main Results:

GE significantly changed throughout the season, increasing during precompetition and decreasing postcompetition.
Precompetition GE gains correlated with total training time and time spent above OBLA intensity.
Training between LT and OBLA intensities was associated with better GE maintenance.

Conclusions:

Gross efficiency in cyclists varies significantly across a competitive season.
Training volume and intensity are directly related to changes in GE throughout the season.