Pulmonary responses during the cycle-run succession in elite and competitive triathletes.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of performance level on the pulmonary responses in triathletes during the cycle-run succession.


METHODS
Eight regionally and nationally ranked (Competitive) and six internationally ranked (Elite) male triathletes underwent 30 min of cycling followed by 20 min of running (C-R) and 30 min of control cycling (C). Before and 10 min after each trial, the triathletes underwent lung function testing. Ventilatory data were collected every minute using an automated breath-by-breath system.


RESULTS
The results showed that (a) cycling induced a significant increase in residual volume and functional residual capacity in the Elite group (P <.05); (b) although cycling induced a significant decrease in DLCO in both groups, this decrease persisted at the end of the cycle-run exercise in the Competitive group only (P <.05); and (c) the rise in breathing frequency was significantly greater in the Competitive triathletes during the first 8 min of the subsequent run (P <.04).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the internationally ranked--or elite-performance--triathletes may have developed specific responses to the cycle-run succession.
Hue
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Laboratoire ACTE, UFR-STAPS Antilles-Guyane, Campus Fouillole, 97129 Pointe   Pitre Cedex, France.
Galy
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Le Gallais
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Préfaut
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C
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D005080:Exercise Test; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*
D002395:Catecholamines; D019344:Lactic Acid