Peak oxygen uptake in a sprint interval testing protocol vs. maximal oxygen uptake in an incremental testing protocol and their relationship with cross-country mountain biking performance.
In the literature, the exercise capacity of cyclists is typically assessed using incremental and endurance exercise tests. The aim of the present study was to confirm whether peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) attained in a sprint interval testing protocol correlates with cycling performance, and whether it corresponds to maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) determined by an incremental testing protocol. A sample of 28 trained mountain bike cyclists executed 3 performance tests: (i) incremental testing protocol (ITP) in which the participant cycled to volitional exhaustion, (ii) sprint interval testing protocol (SITP) composed of four 30 s maximal intensity cycling bouts interspersed with 90 s recovery periods, (iii) competition in a simulated mountain biking race. Oxygen uptake, pulmonary ventilation, work, and power output were measured during the ITP and SITP with postexercise blood lactate and hydrogen ion concentrations collected. Race times were recorded. No significant inter-individual differences were observed in regards to any of the ITP-associated variables. However, 9 individuals presented significantly increased oxygen uptake, pulmonary ventilation, and work output in the SITP compared with the remaining cyclists. In addition, in this group of 9 cyclists, oxygen uptake in SITP was significantly higher than in ITP. After the simulated race, this group of 9 cyclists achieved significantly better competition times (99.5 ± 5.2 min) than the other cyclists (110.5 ± 6.7 min). We conclude that mountain bike cyclists who demonstrate higher peak oxygen uptake in a sprint interval testing protocol than maximal oxygen uptake attained in an incremental testing protocol demonstrate superior competitive performance.
a University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, 35 J.I. Paderewski Avenue, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland.|b National Team Coach, Polish Cycling Federation, 1 Andrzeja Avenue, 05-800 Pruszków, Poland.
Rafał
R
Hebisz
a University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, 35 J.I. Paderewski Avenue, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland.
Paulina
P
Hebisz
a University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, 35 J.I. Paderewski Avenue, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland.
Marek
M
Zatoń
a University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, 35 J.I. Paderewski Avenue, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland.
Kamil
K
Michalik
D000137:Acid-Base Imbalance / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001642:Bicycling; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005221:Fatigue / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000072696:High-Intensity Interval Training / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011044:Poland; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
D019344:Lactic Acid
consommation d’oxygène de pointe; cyclistes de montagne; exercice de sprint par intervalle; mountain cyclists; peak oxygen uptake; sprint interval exercise