title: Peak power output provides the most reliable measure of performance in prolonged intermittent-sprint cycling.
abstract: The aims of this study were to determine the reliability of an intermittent-sprint cycling protocol and to determine the efficacy of one practice session on main trials. Eleven men, moderately trained team-sport athletes, completed three visits to the laboratory involving a graded-exercise test and practice session and two trials of a cycling intermittent-sprint Protocol separated by three days. Data for practice and main trials were analysed using typical error of measurement, intra-class correlation and least-products regression to determine reliability. Typical error of measurement (expressed as a coefficient of variation) and intra-class correlation for peak power output from all 20 sprints for trial 1 and trial 2 were 2.9 ± 12.8% (95% confidence interval: 2.0-5.0%) and 0.96 (95% confidence interval: 0.85-0.99), respectively. Typical errors of measurement and intra-class correlation for mean power output for all 20 sprints for trials 1 and 2 were 4.2 ± 11.9% (95% confidence interval: 2.9-7.4%) and 0.90 (95% confidence interval: 0.66-0.97), respectively. The results suggest that peak power output provides a more reliable measure than mean power output. The Cycling Intermittent-Sprint Protocol provides reliable measures of intermittent-sprint performance.
authors.affiliation: University of Brighton, School of Sport and Service Management, Eastbourne, UK. M.Hayes@brighton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Drew
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Castle
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.forename: Emma Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Neil S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Maxwell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult