Classification of Male Athletes Based on Critical Power

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Performance Analysis

Background:

• Critical Power (CP) is a key physiological metric for endurance athletes.
• Objective performance classification is essential for tailored training programs.
• The 9/3-minute Stryd CP test offers a practical method for CP assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To classify male athletes into distinct performance tiers based on running critical power (CP).
• To establish objective performance benchmarks using CP data.
• To facilitate customized training strategies and goal setting for athletes.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-four trained male athletes completed the 9/3-minute Stryd CP test.
• Hierarchical cluster analysis (Ward's method) was employed to group athletes by CP.
• Ordinary least square linear regression defined five performance tiers based on power output (W/kg).

Main Results:

• Three distinct clusters with CP centroids at 3.87, 4.45, and 5.14 W/kg were identified.
• Five performance tiers were established: Fair (2.9-3.6 W/kg) to International (5.5-6.1 W/kg).
• Cluster analysis effectively explained 89-96% of CP variance, with a strong linear regression fit (r²=0.997).

Conclusions:

• The study successfully classified male athletes into objective performance tiers using running CP.
• This CP-based classification provides valuable insights for developing individualized training plans.
• The findings support the use of the Stryd CP test for performance stratification and training optimization.