title: Evaluation of a field test to assess performance in elite cyclists.
abstract: The study aimed to assess the reproducibility of power output during a 4 min (TT4) and a 20 min (TT20) time-trial and the relationship with performance markers obtained during a laboratory graded exercise test (GXT). Ventilatory and lactate thresholds during a GXT were measured in competitive male cyclists (n=15; (.)VO (2max) 67+/-5 ml x min (-1) x kg (-1); P (max) 440+/-38W). Two 4 min and 20 min time-trials were performed on flat roads. Power output was measured using a mobile power-meter (SRM). Strong intraclass-correlations for TT4 ( R=0.98; 95% CL: 0.92-0.99) and TT20 ( R=0.98; 95% CL: 0.95-0.99) were observed. TT4 showed a bias+/-random error of - 0.8+/-23W or - 0.2+/-5.5%. During TT20 the bias+/-random error was - 1.8+/-14W or 0.6+/-4.4%. Both time-trials were strongly correlated with performance measures from the GXT (p<0.001). Significant differences were observed between power output during TT4 and GXT measures (p<0.001). No significant differences were found between TT20 and power output at the second lactate-turn-point (LTP2) (p=0.98) and respiratory compensation point (RCP) (p=0.97). In conclusion, TT4 and TT20 mean power outputs are reliable predictors of aerobic endurance. TT20 was in agreement with power output at RCP and LTP2.
authors.affiliation: University of Exeter, School of Sport and Health Sciences, Exeter, United Kingdom. an242@exeter.ac.uk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nimmerichter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bachl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis