Power Output During a Professional Men’s Road-Cycling Tour

Abstract

To quantify the power-output demands of men's road-cycling stage racing using a direct measure of power output. Power-output data were collected from 207 races over 6 competition years on 31 Australian national male road cyclists. Subjects performed a maximal graded exercise test in the laboratory to determine maximum aerobic-power output, and bicycles were fitted with SRM power meters. Races were described as flat, hilly, or criterium, and linear mixed modeling was used to compare the races. Criterium was the shortest race and displayed the highest mean power output (criterium 262 +/- 30 v hilly 203 +/- 32 v flat 188 +/- 30 W), percentage total race time above 7.5 W/kg (criterium 15.5% +/- 4.1% v hilly 3.8% +/- 1.7% v flat 3.5% +/- 1.4%) and SD in power output (criterium 250 v hilly 165 v flat 169 W). Approximately 67%, 80%, and 85% of total race time was spent below 5 W/kg for criterium, hilly and flat races, respectively. About 70, 40, and 20 sprints above maximum aerobic-power output occurred during criterium, hilly, and flat races, respectively, with most sprints being 6 to 10 s. These data extend previous research documenting the demands of men's road cycling. Despite the relatively low mean power output, races were characterized by multiple high-intensity surges above maximum aerobic-power output. These data can be used to develop sport-specific interval-training programs that replicate the demands of competition.