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A Real-World High-Intensity Interval Training Protocol for Cardiorespiratory Fitness Improvement
Published on: February 22, 2022
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Training load and intensity distribution for sprinting among world-class track cyclists
François-Denis Desgorces1,2, Jean Slawinski3, William Bertucci4
1URP 7329, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France - francois.desgorces@u-paris.fr.
The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
|March 24, 2023
Summary
Elite track cycling sprinters primarily engage in high-intensity, on-bike training. Training load variations occur weekly, not daily, with intensity increasing closer to competitions.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Cycling Performance
Background:
- Limited research exists on real-world sprinter training programs.
- Understanding sprint training requires analyzing actual training loads and intensity distributions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize track cycling sprinter training.
- To analyze training load and intensity distribution in elite track cyclists.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 29 weeks of pre-championship training data from 6 world-class athletes.
- Training load measured by volume ratio, categorized into 5 intensity zones (1-2 endurance, 3-5 sprinting) and exercise type (on-bike, resistance).
- Analysis of intra-week (training monotony) and inter-week (acute-chronic workload ratio) variations.
Main Results:
- On-bike training constituted 77.4% of total load; resistance training 22.6%.
- High inter-week training load variation (acute-chronic workload ratio) observed, with low intra-week variation (training monotony).
- Zones 4 and 5 comprised 74.4% of training load, with zone 5 increasing and zones 3-4 decreasing as competitions approached.
Conclusions:
- Elite track cycling sprinter training is characterized by high-intensity, on-bike exercises.
- Training load manipulation (overloading/unloading) relies on weekly, not daily, fluctuations.
- A polarized intensity distribution, focused on the highest intensities, is evident and intensifies nearing major events.
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