Power output during a professional men's road-cycling tour.

@article{Ebert2006PowerOD,
  title={Power output during a professional men's road-cycling tour.},
  author={Tammie R. Ebert and David T. Martin and Brian Stephens and Robert T. Withers},
  journal={International journal of sports physiology and performance},
  year={2006},
  volume={1 4},
  pages={
          324-35
        }
}
PURPOSE To quantify the power-output demands of men's road-cycling stage racing using a direct measure of power output. METHODS Power-output data were collected from 207 races over 6 competition years on 31 Australian national male road cyclists. Subjects performed a maximal graded exercise test in the laboratory to determine maximum aerobic-power output, and bicycles were fitted with SRM power meters. Races were described as flat, hilly, or criterium, and linear mixed modeling was used to… 
View on PubMed
humankinetics.com
77 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
9
Background Citations
30
Methods Citations
5
Results Citations
7

Figures and Tables from this paper

77 Citations

Variability in power output during cycling in international Olympic-distance triathlon.
TLDR
Cycling during Olympic-distance triathlon, characterized by frequent and large power variations including repeat supramaximal efforts, equates to a higher workload than cycling at constant power.
Impact of Altitude on Power Output during Cycling Stage Racing
TLDR
A reduction in oxygen availability as altitude increases leads to attenuation of cycling power output during competition, which does not seem to affect speed which tended to be greater at higher altitudes.
The power profile predicts road cycling MMP.
TLDR
The results indicate that the PP test is an ecologically valid assessment of power producing capacity over cycling specific durations and in combination with MMP analysis, this may be a useful tool for quantifying elements of cycling specific performance in competitive cyclists.
Physiological and performance characteristics of road, mountain bike and BMX cyclists
The purpose of this research was to quantify several physiological and power output characteristics of high-performance road, cross-country mountain bike (XCMB), downhill mountain bike (DHMB) and…
Reliability and validity of a new variable-power performance test in road cyclists.
TLDR
This study has demonstrated a new reliable protocol simulating the stochastic nature of road cycling races and established the relationship between physiological attributes typically measured during an incremental exercise test and performance during the variable-power cycling test (VCT).
Differences in the Direction of Effort Adaptation Between Mountain Bikers and Road Cyclists
TLDR
Differences in the directions and dynamics of the body’s adaption to training in road (rOAD) and mountain (MTb) cyclists are identified and cluster analysis indicated that the amount of work performed during the progressive load test was a universal indicator of physical fitness.
Relationship between common measures of training stress and maximum mean power during road cycling races
In preparation for endurance cycle races, cyclists carry out a large volume of training to attain the necessary fitness to perform. These loads must be managed wisely to be optimally prepared for…
Energy expenditure of constant- and variable-intensity cycling: power meter estimates.
TLDR
Findings support the use of calibrated power meters for estimating cycling EE, and for trained female road cyclists, total mechanical work multiplied by 5.3 provides a valid estimation of total EE during variable-intensity cycling <75% MAP, although determining each athlete's GE improves accuracy greatly.
Exercise intensity and load during uphill cycling in professional 3-week races
TLDR
It is shown that mountain passes are highly demanding and that their intensity is related not only to the difficulty of the ascents but also to the position within the stage, which could be useful for planning pre-competition training strategies.
Physiological Response to Cycling With Variable Versus Constant Power Output
Introduction: Variable power output (VP) is one of the main characteristics of a road cycling mass-start. Tolerating VP during outdoor road cycling highly influences performance. There is a lack of…
...
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 27 REFERENCES
Power output during stage racing in professional road cycling.
TLDR
Evaluating the power output during a multistage professional road race using direct power measurements and comparing these results with the performance measurements using competition heart rate recordings found most of the competition time during the mass start stages was spent at intensities near the LT.
The bioenergetics of World Class Cycling.
Heart rate response to professional road cycling: the Tour de France.
TLDR
It is concluded that during an endurance event such as the Tour de France, although the overall contribution of moderate (VT1 to VT2) or high intensity exercise (>VT2) is substantially lower than that of light, aerobic exercise (<VT1), a clear distinction must be made between the different type of stages (i.e. easy, flat parcours vs mountain stages or time trials).
Physiology of Professional Road Cycling
TLDR
This article extensively reviews the different responses and adaptations (cardiopulmonary system, metabolism, neuromuscular factors or endocrine system) to this sport and places a special emphasis on the evaluation of performance both in the laboratory and during actual competitions such as the Tour de France.
Exercise intensity during competition time trials in professional road cycling.
TLDR
HRmax, TRIMP and time distribution around HR(OBLA) and HR(LT) reflected the physiological demands of different TT categories and were accurate intensity markers in events lasting.
Heart rate responses during a 4-d cycle stage race.
TLDR
The results of this study reveal the stochastic nature of bunch cycle racing and show that the HR responses of competitive cyclists are more a function of tactical bunch riding than of terrain.
Cadence and performance in elite cyclists
TLDR
It is demonstrated that elite cyclists perform best at their most efficient cadence despite the maximal energy turnover rate being larger at a higher cadence.
Heart rate and performance parameters in elite cyclists: a longitudinal study.
TLDR
A single laboratory testing session at the beginning of the season might be sufficient to adequately prescribe training loads based on HR data in elite endurance athletes such as professional cyclists.
Linear increase in optimal pedal rate with increased power output in cycle ergometry
  • J. CoastH. Welch
  • Materials Science
    European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology
  • 2004
TLDR
The results indicate that an optimum pedal rate exists in this group of cyclists, and when the study is compared to studies in which elite racers, or non-racers were used, the optimum seems to increase with the skill of the rider.
Optimal pedaling rate estimated from neuromuscular fatigue for cyclists.
TLDR
The findings suggest that the reason that cyclists prefer a higher pedaling rate is closely related to the development of neuromuscular fatigue in the working muscles.
...
...