title: A comparison of the cycling performance of cyclists and triathletes.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the cycling performance of cyclists and triathletes. Each week for 3 weeks, and on different days, 25 highly trained male cyclists and 18 highly trained male triathletes performed: (1) an incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer for the determination of peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), peak power output and the first and second ventilatory thresholds, followed 15 min later by a sprint to volitional fatigue at 150% of peak power output; (2) a cycle to exhaustion test at the VO2peak power output; and (3) a 40-km cycle time-trial. There were no differences in VO2peak, peak power output, time to volitional fatigue at 150% of peak power output or time to exhaustion at VO2peak power output between the two groups. However, the cyclists had a significantly faster time to complete the 40-km time-trial (56:18 +/- 2:31 min:s; mean +/- s) than the triathletes (58:57 +/- 3:06 min:s; P < 0.01), which could be partially explained (r = 0.34-0.51; P < 0.05) by a significantly higher first (3.32 +/- 0.36 vs 3.08 +/- 0.36 l x min(-1)) and second ventilatory threshold (4.05 +/- 0.36 vs 3.81 +/- 0.29 l x min(-1); both P < 0.05) in the cyclists compared with the triathletes. In conclusion, cyclists may be able to perform better than triathletes in cycling time-trial events because they have higher first and second ventilatory thresholds.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. p.laursen@ballarat.edu.au
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Laursen
authors.forename: Cecilia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shing
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tennant
authors.forename: Cameron M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013995:Time