The Influence of High-Intensity Work on the Record Power Profile of Under-23, ProTeam, and World Tour Cyclists.

Abstract

Durability (ie,the ability to attenuate the decline in performance after accumulated work) has been identified as a performance determinant in elite cyclists. The aim of the present study was to compare durability in elite cyclists of various performance levels, particularly after high-intensity work, referred to as "high-intensity durability." Forty-nine (N = 49) male road cyclists were categorized as either under 23 years of age (U23) (N = 11), Pro Team (N = 13), or World Tour (N = 24). The participants' critical power (CP) was assessed during the preseason. Thereafter, the participants' maximum mean power (MMP) values were determined for efforts of different durations (from 5s to 30min) after different levels of accumulated work above CP (from 0 to 7.5kJ·kg-1). U23 cyclists showed a significant reduction of all relative MMP values for durations ≥1minute after ≥5kJ·kg-1 above CP compared with the "fresh" state (0kJ·kg-1), whereas in Pro Team and World Tour cyclists, a significant reduction was not observed until 7.5kJ·kg-1 above CP. In the "fresh" state, both Pro Team and particularly World Tour cyclists attained higher MMP values for efforts ≥10minutes than U23 riders. However, more differences emerged with greater previous work levels, and indeed after 7.5kJ·kg-1 above CP World Tour cyclists attained higher MMP values than both U23 and Pro Team cyclists for most efforts (≥30s). Pro Team and particularly World Tour cyclists tolerate greater levels of accumulated work at high intensity, which might support the importance of high-intensity durability for performance.