Training-Intensity Distribution in Road Cyclists: Objective Versus Subjective Measures.

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Cycling Performance

Background:

• Accurate training-intensity distribution is crucial for optimizing performance in well-trained cyclists.
• Different physiological and subjective measures exist to quantify exercise intensity, including rating of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR), and power output (PO).
• The congruence of these measures in defining training zones remains an area of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare training-intensity distribution in well-trained cyclists using rating of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR), and power output (PO).
• To identify discrepancies in training zone allocation based on different intensity quantification methods.
• To understand the implications of these discrepancies for training prescription and load monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Fifteen road cyclists underwent a 10-week training period.
• Training data were collected and intensity distribution was analyzed using RPE, HR, and PO.
• A 3-zone model was applied, with HR and PO zones based on lactate thresholds, and RPE zones defined on a 10-point scale.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were observed in time spent across training zones when using RPE versus HR and PO.
• RPE resulted in substantially less time in Zone 1 and more time in Zones 2 and 3 compared to HR and PO.
• These differences were statistically significant (P < .001) across all zones.

Conclusions:

• Training-intensity distribution analysis in cyclists is highly dependent on the chosen intensity measure (RPE, HR, or PO).
• Quantification using RPE leads to a different distribution of training load compared to HR and PO.
• The selection of an intensity measure has critical implications for training load quantification, prescription, and overall training evaluation.