Abstract
The minimal power that elicits VO2max and the time to exhaustion (tlimit) at this workload appear to determine cyclists’ endurance capabilities, analyze performance and help coaches to design training. Data in the literature are limited so as to elucidate this. The aim of this study was to investigate the tlimit at the power output, which corresponds to 90 (tlimit 90) and 100% VO2max (tlimit 100) in elite endurance cyclists. The contribution of tlimit in 3 km indoor individual time trial was also studied. Subjects were eleven elite male road cyclists (age 17.7 0.5 years, body mass 66.8 4.9 kg, body height 176.3 7.4 cm, VO2max 69.77 2.58 ml.kg-1.min-1). Power output at 90 and 100% VO2max was determined by continuous incremental testing. This protocol had steps of 2 min and increments of 30 W. The exhaustive trials tlimit 90 or tlimit 100 were performed in random order at least five days apart. Five days after the last exhaustive trial, cyclists performed an individual 3 km time trial on an indoor wooden track. Mean sd, tlimit 90 and tlimit 100 were 16:27.73 07:46.6 and 4:48.6 00:53.2 min:sec. Time to exhaustion at tlimit 90 and tlimit 100 ranged between 07:00-30:15 and 03:10-06:00 min:sec, respectively. Tlimit 100, tlimit 90 and VO2max (ml.min-1) did not correlate with 3 km cycling performance (r = 0.08, 0.16 and –0.59, p > 0.05). Tlimit 90 was inversely related (r = –0.49, p = 0.1) with VO2max (ml.min-1). Only power output which corresponded to ventilatory threshold and VO2max correlated significantly with 3 km performance (r = –0.83 and –0.80, p < 0.01). The results of this study indicate that: a) if cyclists’ training intensity is based on %VO2max, individual determination of the tlimit at the %VO2max has to be considered due to a wide range of tlimit to exhaustion; b) 3 km performance directly depends on the power that corresponds with ventilatory threshold and VO2max.
 
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Highlights
The range of training and racing exercise intensities (Hill, Poole & Smith, 2002) can be divided in four areas based on their distinct metabolic profile
The potency of high intensity (>90%VO2max) interval training (HIIT) to induce rapid changes in exercise capacity and skeletal muscle metabolism has been examined by Gibbala and McGee (2008)
The homogeneity of the subjects can be confirmed by the low CV of VO2max (3.7%) and t3km (3.11%)
Summary
The range of training and racing exercise intensities (Hill, Poole & Smith, 2002) can be divided in four areas based on their distinct metabolic profile. The severe exercise intensity domain is characterized by the attainment of VO2max whereas extreme exercise intensity (>120%VO2max) due to early fatigue development and the resulting short exercise duration, prevents the attainment of VO2max (Hill et al, 2002; Poole, Ward, Gardner &Whipp, 1988). These exercise domains have been shown to be useful to assess exercise tolerance, prescribe exercise and predict competition performance (Jones & Carter, 2000). Short term HIIT was superior to continuous with submaximal intensity training in the criterion performance
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