title: Age difference in efficiency of locomotion and maximal power output in well-trained triathletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the influence of age on cycling efficiency and sprint power output in well-trained endurance masters athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The investigation was conducted on 60 healthy well-trained triathletes separated into six separate groups (n = 10) depending on age: 20-29 years old; 30-39 years old; 40-49 years old; 50-59 years old; 60-69 years old; 70 years old. Each participant attended the laboratory on three separate occasions to perform (1) an incremental cycling test, (2) maximal peak sprint power test, involving three 5-s sprint efforts (3) and a 10-min sub-maximal cycling test for determination of cycling efficiency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cycling efficiency decreased beyond 50 years (50-59 years compared with 20-29 years: -7.3 ± 1.8%; p < 0.05) and continued to decrease beyond 60 years (60-69 years compared with 50-59 years: -10.7 ± 2.4%; p < 0.05), no further decrease was observed after 70 years. A continuous impairment in maximal sprint power output was observed after the age of 50 years leading to an overall decrease of 36% between 20-29 years and >70 years. Significant positive relationships were observed between maximal sprint power output and both cycling efficiency (r(2) = 0.64, p < 0.05) and maximal aerobic power (r(2) = 0.42 and p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data indicates a significant effect of ageing on cycling efficiency and maximal sprint power output after 50 years and a significant relationship was found between these two parameters.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Motricity, Education Sport and Health, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, 261, Route de Grenoble, BP 3259, 06205, Nice Cedex 03, France, brisswalter@unice.fr.
authors.forename: Jeanick
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brisswalter
authors.forename: Sam S X
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Chris R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Abbiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult