Modification of cycling biomechanics during a swim-to-cycle trial.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of drafting, i.e., swimming directly behind a competitor, on biomechanical adaptation during subsequent cycling. Eight well-trained male triathletes underwent three submaximal sessions in a counterbalanced order. These sessions comprised a 10-min ride on a bicycle ergometer at 75% of maximal aerobic power (MAP) at a freely chosen cadence. This exercise was preceded either by a 750-m swim performed alone at competition pace (SCA trial; swimming-cycling alone), a 750-m swim in a drafting position at the same pace as during SCA (SCD trial; swimming-cycling with drafting), or a cycling warm-up at 30% of MAP for the same duration as the SCA trial (CTRL trial). The results indicated that the decrease in metabolic load when swimming in a drafting position (SCD trial) was associated with a significantly lower pedal rate and significantly higher mean and peak resultant torques when compared to the SCA trial, p < 0.05. These results could be partly explained by the lower relative intensity during swimming in the SCD trial when compared with the SCA trial, involving a delayed manifestation of fatigue in the muscles of the lower limbs at the onset of cycling.
Delextrat
Anne
A
Sport Ergonomy and Performance laboratory, University of Toulon-Var, La Garde cedex, France.
Tricot
Véronique
V
Bernard
Thierry
T
Vercruyssen
Fabrice
F
Hausswirth
Christophe
C
Brisswalter
Jeanick
J
D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D010825:Physics; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*