Enhanced durability predicts success in amateur road cycling: evidence of power output declines
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Date
Publisher
Frontiers
Abstract
Purpose: Durability refers to an athlete’s capacity to sustain optimal
performance levels during prolonged physical exertion. Durability has been
recognized as important and remains a key factor in endurance performance,
particularly among amateur athletes who make up the largest segment of the
endurance sports community. In the modern era, where remote coaching has
become increasingly prevalent, there is a need for new methods to measure
durability effectively without the constraints of laboratory. The aim of this
study was to quantify durability in well-trained age-group cycling athletes
using home-based test measures, identify durability as an important predictor
of endurance performance, and provide practical recommendations for
improving durability through training.
Methods: Fourteen endurance-trained cyclists (mean 37.5 ± 5.7 years; VO2max
52.0 ± 7.4 ml·kg−¹·min−¹; training volume 9.6 ± 2.2 h·week−¹) took part in this
study. Participants were divided into two groups based on less successful
achievements: Power output and heart rate response for 5- and 20 min time
trial (TT) efforts was measured in watt under both fresh and fatigued
conditions. The fatiguing protocol involved cycling at 70%–80% of
participants’ initial 20 min TT power until 1,000 kJ of work was completed,
followed by a 5- and 20 min TT.
Results: Successful amateur cyclists have a significantly lower drop of power of
in a 20 min interval in fatigued condition compared to less successful
counterparts. The average drop in power is only half as high for successful
athletes (6.5%) as it is for the less successful athletes (12.5%). For the 5 min
interval and the heart rate response between fresh and fatigue state, no
differences could be found.
Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that successful amateur
cyclists exhibit better durability than less successful athletes after a defined
amount of work, enabling them to sustain higher performance levels during
prolonged efforts.
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