title: Effects of pacing strategy on work done above critical power during high-intensity exercise.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the influence of pacing strategy on the work completed above critical power (CP) before exhaustion (W>CP) and the peak V˙O2 attained during high-intensity cycling.
  
  
  METHODS
  After the determination of VO(2max) from a ramp incremental cycling (INC) test and the estimation of the parameters of the power-duration relationship for high-intensity exercise (i.e., CP and W') from a 3-min all-out cycling test (AOT), eight male subjects completed a cycle test to exhaustion at a severe-intensity constant work rate (CWR) estimated to result in exhaustion in 3 min and a self-paced 3-min cycling time trial (SPT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VO(2max) determined from INC was 4.24 ± 0.69 L · min(-1), and the CP and the W' estimated from AOT were 260 ± 60 W and 16.5 ± 4.0 kJ, respectively. W>CP during SPT was not significantly different from W>CP during CWR (15.3 ± 5.6 and 16.6 ± 7.4 kJ, respectively), and these values were also similar to W(>CP) during INC (16.4 ± 4.0 kJ) and W' estimated from AOT. The peak VO(2) during SPT was not significantly different from peak VO(2) during CWR (4.20 ± 0.77 and 4.14 ± 0.75 L · min(-1), respectively), and these values were similar to the VO(2max) determined from INC and the peak VO(2) during AOT (4.10 ± 0.79 L · min(-1)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exhaustion during high-intensity exercise coincides with the achievement of the same peak VO2 (VO(2max)) and the completion of the same W>CP, irrespective of the work rate forcing function (INC or CWR) or pacing strategy (enforced pace or self-paced). These findings indicate that exhaustion during high-intensity exercise is based on highly predictable physiological processes, which are unaffected when pacing strategy is self-selected.
authors: Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom.
authors: Weerapong
authors: W
authors: Chidnok
authors: Fred J
authors: FJ
authors: Dimenna
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Bailey
authors: Daryl P
authors: DP
authors: Wilkerson
authors: Anni
authors: A
authors: Vanhatalo
authors: Andrew M
authors: AM
authors: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*