1. Development of Cycling Performance Variables and Durability in Female and Male National Team Cyclists: From Junior to Senior.
- Author
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ALMQUIST, NICKI WINFIELD, HANSEN, JOAR, and RØNNESTAD, BENT R.
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AEROBIC capacity , *ENERGY metabolism , *AGE distribution , *OXYGEN consumption , *MUSCLE fatigue , *CYCLING , *SEX distribution , *ATHLETIC ability , *SPRINTING - Abstract
Aim: This study investigated the development of power profiles and performance-related measures from the junior level (<19 yr) via U23 (19-23 yr) to senior level (>23 yr) in 19 female and 100 male Norwegian national team cyclists. Methods: A total of 285 tests were performed in a 3-d laboratory-standardized testing regime. The tests included power profiles with shorter duration (6-60 s) and longer durations (12-30 min) together with performance-related measures: critical power (CP), work capacity above CP (W'), power output at 4 and 2 mmol·L-1 [BLa-] (L4 and L2), maximal aerobic power (Wmax), and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), gross efficiency (GE), and pedaling efficiency. Results: Females and males evolve similarly when maturing from junior via U23 to senior categories (all P > 0.07), except for VO2max, which increased in females (but not males) from junior to senior level (534 ± 436 mL·min-1, P = 0.013). In general, only performances of longer durations improved with age (12 and 30min, P = 0.028 and P = 0.042, respectively). Performance-relatedmeasures likeWmax, VO2max, CP, L4, L2, and pedaling efficiency in the fresh state improved with age (all P = 0.025). Importantly, performance in the semifatigued state during a 5-minmaximal testwas also improvedwith age (P = 0.045) despite a higher external energy expenditure before the test (P=0.026). Conclusions: Junior cyclists showhighly developed sprint abilities, and the primary improvements of absolute power outputs and performance-relatedmeasures are seen for durations >60 s whenmaturing toU23 and senior categories. However, the durability, i.e., the capacity tomaintain performance in a semifatigued state, is improved with age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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