Sustainability of Critical Power Determined by a 3-Minute All-Out Test in Elite Cyclists

• Autores: Scott A. McClave, Scott A, Michele LeBlanc, Steven A. Hawkins
• Localización: Journal of strength and conditioning research: the research journal of the NSCA, ISSN 1064-8011, Vol. 25, Nº. 11, 2011, págs. 3093-3098
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Critical power (CP) is a theoretical workload representative of an athlete's maximal sustainable pace. Recent research has validated a 3-minute all-out test on a cycle ergometer for determining CP; however, few studies have investigated the sustainability of CP using this test. The purpose of this study was to determine the sustainability of CP established during the 3-minute test and the determinants of sustainability. A group of elite cyclists (N = 21) performed a [latin capital V with dot above]O2max test, 3-minute all-out test, and a time to exhaustion (TTE) trial at CP on 3 different days separated by at least 24 hours. Expired gases were collected during all trials and analyzed for [latin capital V with dot above]O2 and VCO2. Heart rate was measured by telemetry. Multiple regression was used to determine predictors of sustainability with significance predetermined at p < 0.05. [latin capital V with dot above]O2max was measured at 58.9 ± 5.6 ml·kg-1·min-1, ventilation breakpoint at 44.9 ± 5.7 ml·kg-1·min-1 (75% [latin capital V with dot above]O2max), and maximum heart rate at 179 ± 10 b·min-1. Peak power (PP) in the 3-minute all-out test was measured at 738 ± 170 W, and CP was determined at 305 ± 32 W or 79% of [latin capital V with dot above]O2max. The [latin capital V with dot above]O2 at CP was 55.4 ± 6.9 ml·kg-1·min-1, representing 94% of measured [latin capital V with dot above]O2max. The mean TTE at CP was 14.79 ± 8.38 minutes. The difference score of PP - CP significantly predicted TTE (r = 0.65, p < 0.05). No other measured variables contributed to this prediction. Based on sustainability, these data suggest that the 3-minute all-out test may overestimate CP in elite cyclists, which could lead to overtraining if CP determined with this test is used to identify training intensities.