Physiological Correlates of 10-Km Up-hill Cycling Performance in Competitive Cyclists

Costa VP, Pertence LC, Paton CD, De Matos DG, Martins JAN, De Lima JRP. Physiological Correlates of 10-Km Up-hill Cycling Performance in Competitive Cyclists. JEPonline 2011;14(3):26-33. The purpose of this study was to verify the relationship between several physiological variables and performance during simulated up-hill road cycling time trial on the field in competitive cyclists. Fifteen cyclists (35.1 ± 7.0 yrs; 68.4 ± 7.7 kg; 1.73 ± 0.1 cm; 8.5 ± 1.0 % of body fat; 57.9 ± 8.2 ml·kg -1 ·min -1 ) performed an incremental exercise test and 10-km up-hill cycling time trial using a power meter device fitted on the cyclist bicycle. Highly significant relationships were obtained between average power output during 10-km cycling time trial normalized to body mass and 10-km cycle time (-0.85; -0.80; P<0.01). VO2 max·kg -1 was also significant associated with 10-km cycle time (-0.69, P<0.05). We conc luded that for competitive cyclists the average power output during 10-km cycling time trial and VO2 max both normalized to body mass are strongly associated with performance cycling time during 10km up-hill cycling time trial simulated on the field.