Aerobic and anaerobic indices contributing to track endurance cycling performance

SummaryA group of 18 male high performance track endurance and sprint cyclists were assessed to provide a descriptive training season specific physiological profile, to examine the relationship between selected physiological and anthropometric variables and cycling performance in a 4000-m individual pursuit (IP4000) and to propose a functional model for predicting success in the IP4000. Anthropometric characteristics, absolute and relative measurements of maximal oxygen uptake ( $$\dot VO_{2max} $$ ), blood lactate transition thresholds (Th1a- and Than,i), $$\dot VO_2 $$ kinetics, cycling economy and maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) were assessed, with cyclists also performing a IP4000 under competition conditions. Peak post-competition blood lactate concentrations and acid-base values were measured. Although all corresponding indices of Th1a- and Than,i occurred at significantly different intensities there were high intercorrelations between them (0.51–0.85). There was no significant difference in MAOD when assessed using a 2 or 5 min protocol (61.4 vs 60.2 ml·kg−1, respectively). The highest significant correlations were found among IP4000 and the following: $$\dot VO_{2max} $$ (ml·kg−2/3·min−1; r=−0.79), power output at lactate threshold ( $$\dot W_{th_{1a} } $$ ) (W; r=−0.86), half time of $$\dot VO_2 $$ response whilst cycling at 115% $$\dot VO_{2max} $$ (s; r=0.48) and MAOD when assessed using the 5 min protocol (ml·kg−1; r=−0.50). A stepwise multiple regression yielded the following equation, which had an r of 0.86 and a standard error of estimate of 5.7 s: IP4000 (s) = 462.9 − 0.366 × 0.306 × ( $$\dot W_{th_{1a} } $$ ) − 0.306 × (MAOD) −0.438 × ( $$\dot VO_{2max} $$ ) where $$\dot W_{th_{1a} } $$ is in W, MAOD is in ml·kg−1 and $$\dot VO_{2max} $$ is in ml·kg−1·min−1. These results established that these male high performance track endurance cyclists had well-developed aerobic and anaerobic energy systems with $$\dot VO_{2max} $$ , Th1a and MAOD being primary important factors in a IP4000. Therefore, it is suggested that these variables should be optimally trained and routinely monitored when preparing track endurance cyclists for competition.