LSCT, a novel submaximal cycle test to monitor fatigue and predict cycling performance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and predictive value of performance parameters measured by a new novel submaximal cycle protocol (also known as the Lamberts and Lambert submaximal cycle test (LSCT)), on peak power and endurance cycling performance in well-trained cyclists. Seventeen well-trained competitive male road racing cyclists completed three peak power output tests (PPO) and three 40-km time trials (40-km TT) after familiarisation. Before each test all cyclists performed the LSCT as their warm-up method. Parameters associated with performance such as power, speed, cadence and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during the three stages of the test when cyclists rode at workloads coinciding with fixed predetermined heart rates (60%, 80% and 90% of HRmax). Heart rate recovery (HRR) was measured after the final stage of the test. Parameters measured during the second and third stage of the LSCT were highly reliable (intraclass correlation range: R=0.85-1.00) and associated with low typical error of measurements (TEM range: 1.3%-4.4%). Good relationships were found between the LSCT and cycling performance measured by the PPO and 40-km TT tests. Mean power had stronger relationships with measures of cycling performance during the second (r=0.80-0.89) and third stage (r=0.91-0.94) of the LSCT than HRR (r=0.55-0.68). The LSCT is a reliable novel test which is able to predict peak and endurance cycling performance from submaximal power, RPE and HRR in well-trained cyclists. As these parameters are able to detect meaningful changes more accurately than VO2max, the LSCT has the potential to monitor cycling performance with more precision than other current existing submaximal cycle protocols.