Effects of initial performance, gross efficiency and VO_2peak characteristics on subsequent adaptations to endurance training in competitive cyclists
Skovereng, Knut; Sylta, Øystein; Tønnessen, Espen; Hammarström, Daniel; Danielsen, Jørgen; Seiler, Stephen; Rønnestad, Bent; Sandbakk, Øyvind
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Date
2018Metadata
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Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of initial levels of cycling performance, peak oxygen uptake (www.frontiersin.orgO2peak) and gross efficiency (GE) on the subsequent adaptations of these variables and their relationship following high-intensity training (HIT) designed to increase www.frontiersin.orgO2peak in competitive cyclists. Sixty cyclists (www.frontiersin.orgO2peak = 61 ± 6 mL kg-1 min-1) were assigned a 12-week training program consisting of twenty-four supervised high-intensity interval training sessions and ad libitum low intensity training. GE was calculated at 125, 175, and 225 W and performance was determined by mean power during a 40-min time-trial (Power40 min). In addition to correlation analyses between initial level and pre- to post-intervention changes of the different variables, we compared these changes between four groups where participants were categorized with either low and/or high initial levels of www.frontiersin.orgO2peak and GE. Average volume of high- and low-intensity training during the 12-week intervention was 1.5 ± 0.3 and 8.3 ± 2.7 h.week-1, respectively. Following the 12-week training period, there was a significant increase in absolute and body mass normalized www.frontiersin.orgO2peak and Power40 min (p < 0.05) and a significant decrease in GE (p < 0.05) for all athletes pooled. There was no change in body mass following the 12-week training period. We found a moderate negative correlation between initial level of www.frontiersin.orgO2peak and the change in www.frontiersin.orgO2peak following the training period (r = -0.32; p < 0.05). A small negative correlation was also found between initial Power40 min and its change following training both when expressed in absolute power and power normalized for body mass (r = -0.27 and -0.28; both p < 0.05). A moderate negative correlation was also found between initial levels for GE and its change following training (r = -0.44; p < 0.01). There were no differences between the four groups based on initial levels of www.frontiersin.orgO2peak and GE in the response to training on www.frontiersin.orgO2peak, GE, or Power40 min (all p > 0.12). In conclusion, the present findings suggest that there are statistically significant effects of initial levels of cycling performance and www.frontiersin.orgO2peak and on the subsequent adaptations following a 12-week HIT program, but the small and moderate effects indicate limited influence on training practice.