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Effect of pacing strategy on cycle time trial performance
C Foster1, A C Snyder, N N Thompson
1Human Performance Laboratory, Sinai Samaritan Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53201.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|March 1, 1993
Summary
Even pacing is key for middle-distance cycling events. Athletes performing a 2-km time trial achieved their fastest times with consistent pacing, highlighting the importance of strategy.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Performance Analysis
Background:
- Coaches and athletes show interest in competitive strategy.
- Lack of systematic data on pacing strategy effects in middle-distance events (2-4 min duration).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of different pacing strategies on middle-distance cycling performance.
- To determine the optimal pacing strategy for middle-distance events.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a 2-km time trial on a bicycle with a wind load simulator.
- Experimentally controlled pacing during the first 50% of the trial (55% to 48% of best time).
- Measured serial oxygen uptake (VO2), accumulated oxygen deficit, and postexercise blood lactate.
Main Results:
- The evenly paced trial (first 1 km = 50.9% of final time) resulted in the fastest overall time.
- A U-shaped curve described the relationship between starting pace and final time, with the optimal pace at 51% of best total time.
- No significant differences in physiological measures (VO2, O2 deficit, lactate) explained performance variations due to pacing.
Conclusions:
- Even pacing is the most effective strategy for middle-distance cycling events.
- Deviations from even pacing, even minor ones, negatively impact performance.
- The findings support the concept of relatively even pacing for optimal results.