Prediction of Maximal Effort Bicycle Ergometer Endurance Performance

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Abstract
Fifteen competitive cyclists and 15 subjects not involved in competitive cycling were studied to determine the relationship between .ovrhdot.VO2 max, lactate threshold (LT), fixed blood lactate concentrations, body composition parameters, and maximal effort bicycle ergometer performance. The subjects were assessed for .ovrhdot.VO2 max, LT, .ovrhdot.VOLT, and .ovrhdot.VO2 associated with blood lactate concentrations of 3, 4, 5, and 6 mM/l (.ovrhdot.VO2 3 mM-.ovrhdot.VO2 6 mM/l), using an incremental protocol on the bicycle ergometer. Body composition was determined by underwater weighing. Subjects also completed two 10-min drop-off performance tests (starting at 70 rpm) at the same absolute power output (4.5 kg resistance, 1890 kgm/min) (ABS) and at the same relative power output (the highest power output completed for 3 min on the .ovrhdot.VO2 max test) (REL). Metabolic measures and revolution scores were collected on a minute-by-minute basis during the performance tests. The results indicated that the competitive cyclists had higher .ovrhdot.VO2 max (4.25 .+-. 0.39 vs 3.50 .+-. 0.54 l/min); .ovrhdot.VO2 LT (2.91 .+-. 0.55 vs 1.66 .+-. 0.49 l/min); .ovrhdot.VO2 3 mM, .ovrhdot.VO2 4 mM, .ovrhdot.VO2 5 mM, .ovrhdot.VO2 6 mM, .ovrhdot.VO2 LT/.ovrhdot.VO2 max (68.5 .+-. 11.2 vs 47.2 .+-. 10.9%); max resistance (5.70 .+-. 0.56 vs 4.63 .+-. 0.67 kg); and resistance at LT (3.57 .+-. 0.70 vs 1.93 .+-. 0.68 kg) as compared to the noncompetitive subjects (P < 0.05). Correlational analysis revealed poor prediction between metabolic measures and the homogeneous cumulative rpm scores during the REL test. .ovrhdot.VO2 max, .ovrhdot.VO2 LT, .ovrhdot.VO2 3 mM, .ovrhdot.VO2 4 mM, .ovrhdot.VO2 5 mM, and .ovrhdot.VO2 6 mM were good predictors of cumulative rpm during ABS for all subjects combined and for the noncompetitive subjects (r = 0.60 to 0.90). In the more homogeneous competitive group, correlations dropped to r < 0.66 during ABS. Similar correlations were found for REL when rpm scores were converted to power output. Body composition parameters correlated poorly (r < 0.71) with results of both ABS and REL for both subject groups. It was concluded that .ovrhdot.VO2 max, .ovrhdot.VO2 LT, and .ovrhdot.VO2 3 mM through .ovrhdot.VO2 6 mM are good predictors of work output using a drop-off performance model. It was further concluded that in competitive cyclists factors other than .ovrhdot.VO2 values may be important for prediction of performance.

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