Strength as a determine of performance in an interval and steady state protocol in highly trained cross-country cyclists

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between strength and time to exhaustion in an interval and steady state protocol in highly trained cross-country cyclists.

Method: Fifteen highly trained male cross-country cyclists tested work economy, VO2max, peak sprint power, and strength on test day 1. Maximal aerobic power (MAP) was calculated. On test day 2, they completed an interval and steady state protocol to exhaustion individualized to MAP. All cycling tests was conducted in a laboratory, on a bike trainer.

Results: Time to exhaustion during the interval protocol showed a very large and large correlation to peak power and force relative to bodyweight (r = 0.72, p < 0.01, r = 0.65, p = 0.013, respectively) while a large tendency was found between steady state protocol and peak power (r = 0.51, p = 0.059). Peak sprint power had a large correlation with relative peak power and force (r = 0.62, p = 0.017, r = 0.66, p < 0.01). Time to exhaustion on the interval and steady state protocol had no significant correlation with maximal peak sprint power (r = 0.26, p = 0.37, r = 0.2, p = 0.35).

Conclusion: Both higher power and force relative to body weight are correlated with time to exhaustion on an interval protocol normalized to their MAP, as well as maximal sprint power. This suggests that greater strength is associated with improved performance on an interval protocol, and greater sprint power.