INTENSIVE BICYCLE TRAINING-RELATED OVERTRAINING INLESS EXPERIENCED ATHLETES936

Abstract

Since we failed to induce an overtraining syndrome in distance runners by 150%*4wks-1 increase in intens. training (ratio ext./intens. training:5.8,3.2,3.1,2.7, wk 1 - 4), we tried it again in 6 less experienced athletes (26.1±1 ys; VO2max 51.5±4.5 ml) by 6 wk bic.erg.training (average ext./ intens.train.ratio:0.17). Results: During graded exercise, performance was increased in wk 3 (+36%) at 2 mmol lactate(P2), decreased in wk 6 (-9% vs wk 3), and after 2 wks of recovery (-11% vs wk 3); P4 was increased in wk 3 (+8%, stagnated in wk 6, and after recovery; total work (summed time*watt) was increased in wk 3 (+8%), stagnated in wk 6, and decreased after recovery (-8% vs baseline). Since glucose-exercise curce in wk 6, after recovery, and glucose response to iv-noradrenaline were suppressed, P2, P4 may have been overestimated (decreased glycogen stores). Suppressed performance and neuromusc. excitab., lack of supercompensation, may indicate an early overtraining stage. The only significant haemotological or blood-chemical change was a decrease in ferritin (-26% in wk 6, -67% vs baseline after recovery). Conclusion: Less adapted athletes may be at risk to get overtrained during monotonous, intensive, non-cyclic training of more than 3 wks with ext./intens.train.ratio << 1. Haematological, blood-chemical parameters, or basal catechol.excr. were not suitable to monitore such a training at a daily caloric demand of 2815±647kcal.