Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare anthropometric characteristics and aerobic and anaerobic fitness between competitive cyclists and triathletes. The sample consisted of 11cyclists and 12 triathletes with experience in competitions. The tests were performed on two different days, with an interval of 48 h between sessions. On the first day,the athletes were submitted to anthropometric assessment (body mass, height,and skinfold thickness) and a maximal incremental test to determine maximal oxygen uptake, maximum power, maximum heart rate, maximum lactate, and the first (LL1) and second lactate threshold (LL2). The Wingate test was conducted on the second day to determine peak power, average power, and fatigue index. There were significant difference (p < 0.05), with medium effect size (0.80- 1.5), in mid-thigh skinfold thickness (15.2 ± 6.3 and 10.5 ± 4.8 mm), power at LL1 (195.0 ± 30.9 and 162.7 ± 28.3 W), power at LL2 (247.6 ± 25.0 and 219.7± 37.9 W), and fatigue index (47.2 ± 13.0 and 60.1 ± 16.4%) between cyclists and triathletes, respectively. The other variables did not differ between groups. Anthropometric characteristics are similar in triathletes and cyclists. However, cyclists present higher power outputs at the lactate thresholds (LL1 and LL2) and lower fatigue indexes.
Highlights
Cycling is one of the most traditional sports in the world, especially in Europe where the Tour de France is the classic competition of this discipline
We observed no significant differences in height, body mass, sum of skinfolds, body fat percentage, fat mass or lean body mass between the two groups
Laursen et al.[9] observed no significant differences in body mass or sum of five skinfolds between cyclists and triathletes. These findings agree with the present study and indicate that anthropometric characteristics are similar in cyclists and triathletes
Summary
Cycling is one of the most traditional sports in the world, especially in Europe where the Tour de France is the classic competition of this discipline. This sport has been part of the Olympic Games since the first games of the modern era that started in Athens in 1896. Road cycling (~ 250 km) and time trail (~ 45 km) are two of the Olympic disciplines. Triathlon is a more recent sport and the first official competition occurred in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 19781. Triathlon competitions are classified according to distance and the most important competitions are: 1) Olympic distance (1500 m swimming, 40 km cycling, and 10 km running), 2) Ironman (3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling, and 42.2 km running), and 3) Ultraman (10 km swimming, 421 km cycling, and 84 km running)[2]
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