Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2015; 36(13): 1058-1062
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1554697
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Physical Demands of Sprinting in Professional Road Cycling

P. Menaspà
1   School of Exercise and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
,
M. Quod
2   Sport Science, GreenEDGE Cycling, Melbourne, Australia
,
D. T. Martin
3   Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Belconnen, Australia
,
J. J. Peiffer
4   School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
,
C. R. Abbiss
5   Biomedical and Health Sciences, School of Exercise, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 14 May 2015

Publication Date:
07 August 2015 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The aim of this study was to quantify the demands of road competitions ending with sprints in male professional cycling. 17 races finished with top-5 results from 6 male road professional cyclists (age, 27.0±3.8 years; height, 1.76±0.03 m; weight, 71.7±1.1 kg) were analysed. SRM power meters were used to monitor power output, cadence and speed. Data were averaged over the entire race, different durations prior to the sprint (60, 10, 5 and 1 min) and during the actual sprint. Variations in power during the final 10 min of the race were quantified using exposure variation analysis. This observational study was conducted in the field to maximize the ecological validity of the results. Power, cadence and speed were statistically different between various phases of the race (p<0.001), increasing from 316±43 W, 95±4 rpm and 50.5±3.3 km·h−1 in the last 10 min, to 487±58 W, 102±6 rpm and 55.4±4.7 km·h−1 in the last min prior to the sprint. Peak power during the sprint was 17.4±1.7 W·kg−1. Exposure variation analysis revealed a significantly greater number of short-duration high-intensity efforts in the final 5 min of the race, compared with the penultimate 5 min (p=0.010). These findings quantify the power output requirements associated with high-level sprinting in men’s professional road cycling and highlight the need for both aerobic and anaerobic fitness.

Key words

physiology - exercise - physical fitness - athletic performance - maximal - elite
 

  • References

  • 1 Abbiss CR, Quod MJ, Levin G, Martin DT, Laursen PB. Accuracy of the Velotron ergometer and SRM power meter. Int J Sports Med 2009; 30: 107-112
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Abbiss CR, Straker L, Quod MJ, Martin DT, Laursen PB. Examining pacing profiles in elite female road cyclists using exposure variation analysis. Br J Sports Med 2010; 44: 437-442
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Broker JP, Kyle CR, Burke ER. Racing cyclist power requirements in the 4000-m individual and team pursuits. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999; 31: 1677-1685
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Gardner AS, Martin JC, Martin DT, Barras M, Jenkins DG. Maximal torque- and power-pedaling rate relationships for elite sprint cyclists in laboratory and field tests. Eur J Appl Physiol 2007; 101: 287-292
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2014 update. Int J Sports Med 2013; 34: 1025-1028
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Lucia A, Hoyos J, Chicharro JL. Physiology of professional road cycling. Sports Med 2001; 31: 325-337
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Lucia A, Joyos H, Chicharro JL. Physiological response to professional road cycling: climbers vs. time trialists. Int J Sports Med 2000; 21: 505-512
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Martin JC, Davidson CJ, Pardyjak ER. Understanding sprint-cycling performance: the integration of muscle power, resistance, and modeling. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2007; 2: 5-21
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 McEwen R, Pickering E. Sprinting (I). In: McEwen R, Pickering E. One Way Road: The Autobiography of Three Time Tour de France Green Jersey Winner Robbie McEwen. North Sydney: Random House Australia; 2011: 52-60
    Google Scholar
  • 10 Menaspà P, Abbiss CR, Martin DT. Performance analysis of a world-class sprinter during cycling grand tours. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2013; 8: 336-340
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Menaspà P, Impellizzeri FM, Haakonssen E, Martin DT, Abbiss CR. Consistency of Commercial Devices for Measuring Elevation Gain. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2013; 9: 884-886
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Menaspà P, Quod M, Martin D, Victor J, Abbiss C. Physiological demands of road sprinting in professional and U23 cycling. A pilot study. J Sci Cycling 2013; 2: 35-39
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Nevill AM, Jobson SA, Davison RC, Jeukendrup AE. Optimal power-to-mass ratios when predicting flat and hill-climbing time-trial cycling. Eur J Appl Physiol 2006; 97: 424-431
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Padilla S, Mujika I, Cuesta G, Goiriena JJ. Level ground and uphill cycling ability in professional road cycling. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999; 31: 878-885
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Passfield L, Dietz KC, Hopker JG, Jobson SA. Objective time-binning in exposure variation analysis. IMA J Manag Math 2013; 24: 269-282
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Peiffer JJ, Abbiss CR. Influence of environmental temperature on 40 km cycling time-trial performance. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2011; 6: 208-220
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Rodriguez-Marroyo JA, Garcia-Lopez J, Juneau CE, Villa JG. Workload demands in professional multi-stage cycling races of varying duration. Br J Sports Med 2009; 43: 180-185
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Sallet P, Mathieu R, Fenech G, Baverel G. Physiological differences of elite and professional road cyclists related to competition level and rider specialization. J Sports Med Phys Fit 2006; 46: 361-365
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Schumacher YO, Mueller P. The 4000-m team pursuit cycling world record: theoretical and practical aspects. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2002; 34: 1029-1036
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Straker L, Maslen B, Burgess-Limerick R, Pollock C. Children have less variable postures and muscle activities when using new electronic information technology compared with old paper-based information technology. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2009; 19: e132-e143
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Vogt S, Heinrich L, Schumacher YO, Blum A, Roecker K, Dickhuth HH, Schmid A. Power output during stage racing in professional road cycling. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2006; 38: 147-151
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Vogt S, Schumacher YO, Blum A, Roecker K, Dickhuth HH, Schmid A, Heinrich L. Cycling power output produced during flat and mountain stages in the Giro d’Italia: a case study. J Sports Sci 2007; 25: 1299-1305
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar