The Relationship Between Laboratory Assessments Of Endurance Capabilities And Time Trial Performance Of Collegiate Cyclists

Abstract

Field based cycling tests, which utilize computer systems that measure power are recommended by many cycling coaches and professionals as a means to assess a cyclist's preparedness for competition. However, little data are present in the scientific literature that explore(s) the relationships between these field tests and actual physiological markers of performance collected in a controlled laboratory setting. PURPOSE To determine the relationship between a series of laboratory tests designed to assess aerobic capabilities and performance markers during two 4.65 km hill climb time trials and two 10 km flat time trials. METHODS Ten well trained male collegiate cyclists (age: 22.4 ± 4 y; height 179.4 ± 5.7 cm; body mass 74.1 ± 9.4 kg; body fat: 6.3 ± 2.1%; VO2max: 65.5 ± 5.0 ml/kg/min), were recruited in order to determine the relationships between laboratory tests and maximal hill and flat time trial performance. Laboratory assessments of VO2max, and maximal power at VO2max were collected prior to the performance of the first series of time trials. Two pairs of time trials each separate by 15 minutes were performed: two 4.65 km hill climb time trials and two 10 km flat time trials. Time trial performances were assessed with a PowerTap system, which calculated time (s), average velocity (km/h), average power (W), and peak power (W). RESULTS The linear combination of the average velocity of flat trial 1 (ftkmh1) and flat trial 2 (ftkmh2), average power of flat trial 1 (apft1) and flat trail 2 (apft2), and peak power of flat trial 1 (ppft1) and flat trial 2 (ppft2) was significantly related to the VO2max' R2 = 0.95, adjusted R2 = 0.85, F(3,6) = 9.56, p<0.05. Flat time trial prediction equation VO2max (L/min) = −0.111 (ftkmh1) + 0.092 (ftkmh2) + 0.24 (apft1) −0.001 (ppft1) – 0.010 (apft2) + 0.001 (ppft2) + 1.787. The linear combination of the average velocity of hill climb trial 1 (hkmh1) and hill climb trial 2 (hkmh2), average power of hill climb trial 1(aph1) and hill trail 2 (aph2), and peak power of hill climb trial 1 (pph1) and hill climb trial 2 (pph2) was significantly related to the VO2max, R2 = 0.99, adjusted R2 = 0.96, F(3,6) = 34.05, p<0.01. Hill climb time trial prediction equation: VO2max (L/min) = −3.04 (hkmh1) + 0.0117 (hkmh2) +0.35 (aph1) + 0.00(pph1) + 0.15 (aph2) – 0.001 (pph2) + 3.911. CONCLUSION The practice of using of fleld based flat time trial tests and/or hill climb time trial tests appear to be useful in predicting the aerobic capacity of trained collegiate cyclists.