Biology of Sport (Jul 2012)

INFLUENCE OF PEDALING TECHNIQUE ON METABOLIC EFFICIENCY IN ELITE CYCLISTS

  • Jesús Cámara,
  • Sara Maldonado-Martín,
  • Xabier Artetxe-Gezuraga,
  • Natalie Vanicek

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 3
pp. 229 – 233

Abstract

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Our objective was to investigate the influence of pedaling technique on gross efficiency (GE) at various exercise intensities in twelve elite cyclists ( ·VO2max=75.7 ± 6.2 mL·kg-1·min-1). Each cyclist completed a ·VO2max assessment, skinfold measurements, and an incremental test to determine their lactate threshold (LT) and onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) values. The GE was determined during a three-phase incremental exercise test (below LT, at LT, and at OBLA). We did not find a significant relationship between pedaling technique and GE just below the LT. However, at the LT, there was a significant correlation between GE and mean torque and evenness of torque distribution (r=0.65 and r=0.66, respectively; p < 0.05). At OBLA, as the cadence frequency increased, the GE declined (r=-0.81, p < 0.05). These results suggest that exercise intensity plays an important role in the relationship between pedaling technique and GE.

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