Abstract
Eccentric cycling training induces muscle hypertrophy and increases joint power output in non-athletes. Moreover, eccentric cycling can be considered a movement-specific type of strength training for cyclists, but it is hitherto unknown if eccentric cycling training can improve cycling performance in trained cyclists. Twenty-three male amateur cyclists were randomized to an eccentric or a concentric cycling training group. The eccentric cycling was performed at a low cadence (~40 revolution per minute) and the intensity was controlled by perceived effort (12–17 on the Borgs scale) during 2 min intervals (repeated 5–8 times). The cadence and perceived effort of the concentric group matched those of the eccentric group. Additionally, after the eccentric or concentric cycling, both groups performed traditionally aerobic intervals with freely chosen cadence in the same session (4–5 x 4–15 min). The participants trained twice a week for 10 weeks. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), maximal aerobic power output (Wmax), lactate threshold, isokinetic strength, muscle thickness, pedaling characteristics and cycling performance (6- and 30-sec sprints and a 20-min time trial test) were assessed before and after the intervention period. Inferences about the true value of the effects were evaluated using probabilistic magnitude-based inferences. Eccentric cycling induced muscle hypertrophy (2.3 ± 2.5% more than concentric) and augmented eccentric strength (8.8 ± 5.9% more than concentric), but these small magnitude effects seemed not to transfer into improvements in the physiological assessments or cycling performance. On the contrary, the eccentric training appeared to have limiting or detrimental effects on cycling performance, measured as Wmax and a 20-min time trial. In conclusion, eccentric cycling training did not improve cycling performance in amateur cyclists. Further research is required to ascertain whether the present findings reflect an actual lack of efficacy, negative effects or a delayed response to eccentric cycling training.
Highlights
A cyclist’s capacity to release energy and the ability to transfer this energy to pedaling the bike are major performance determinants for cycling
Eccentric cycling for amateur cyclists limited by aerobic energy capacity, but strength training has been shown to be a valuable supplementary to the traditional endurance training for cyclists [1,2]
The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of specific eccentric cycling with regular concentric cycling–with the same perceived effort and cadence–on cycling performance and physiological determinants of cycling performance in trained, Eccentric cycling for amateur cyclists amateur road cyclists
Summary
A cyclist’s capacity to release energy and the ability to transfer this energy to pedaling the bike are major performance determinants for cycling. Rønnestad et al [3] showed that 12 weeks of strength training improved cycling economy during long-duration submaximal cycling and increased the mean power output in a final 5 min with maximal effort. Other studies support these findings [4], but the beneficial effects of strength training is not unequivocal [1]. It seems reasonable to envision that strength training not always results in muscle morphological adaptations in cyclists, as the strength training is conducted along with large volume of aerobic endurance training [2]. We should recognized that strength training induces neural effects, e.g., increased rate of force development (RFD) through increased motoneuron firing frequency [1] and that these neural effects may contribute to better cycling performance independent of muscle hypertrophy [2]
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