title: Influence of feedback and prior experience on pacing during a 4-km cycle time trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the importance of distance knowledge, distance feedback, and prior experience on the setting of a pacing strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen well-trained male cyclists were randomly assigned to a control (CON) group or an experimental (EXP) group and performed four consecutive 4-km time trials (TT), separated by a 17-min recovery. The CON group received prior knowledge of distance to be cycled and received distance feedback throughout each TT; the EXP group received neither but knew that each TT was of the same distance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EXP group was significantly slower than the CON group to complete TT1 (367.4 +/- 21 vs 409.4 +/- 45.5 s, P < 0.001). Differences between groups in completion time reduced over successive TT (CON TT4 = 373.9 +/- 20 s vs EXP TT4 = 373.8 +/- 14.4 s), shown by a significant linear contrast (F1,16 = 12.39, P < 0.0005). Mean speed and power output also showed significantly reduced differences between groups over successive TT (P < 0.0005). However, peak power output showed no such convergence between groups over TT. End blood lactate was significantly different between groups in TT1, but differences between groups converged with successive TT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The progressively improving completion times in the EXP group show that distance feedback is not essential in developing an appropriate pacing strategy. Prior experience of an unknown distance appears to allow the creation of an internal, relative distance that is used to establish a pacing strategy.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alexis R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mauger
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000523:psychology*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D010807:Physical Endurance; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid