AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC INDEXES CONTRIBUTING TO TRACK ENDURANCE CYCLINGPERFORMANCE

A group of 18 male high performance track endurance and sprint cyclist s were assessed to provide a descriptive training season specific phys iological profile, to examine the relationship between selected physio logical and anthropometric variables and cycling performance in a 4000 -m individual pursuit (IP4000) and to propose a functional model for p redicting success in the IP4000. Anthropometric characteristics, absol ute and relative measurements of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), blood lactate transition thresholds (Th(la-) and Th(an,i)), VO2 kinetics, c ycling economy and maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) were asse ssed, with cyclists also performing a IP4000 under competition conditi ons. Peak post-competition blood lactate concentrations and acid-base values were measured. Although all corresponding indices of Th(la-) an d Th(an,i) occurred at significantly different intensities there were high intercorrelations between them (0.51-0.85). There was no signific ant difference in MAOD when assessed using a 2 or 5 min protocol (61.4 vs 60.2 ml . kg-1, respectively). The highest significant correlation s were found among IP4000 and the following: VO2max (ml . kg-2/3 . min -1; r = 0.79), power output at lactate threshold (W(thla)) (W; r = - 0 .86), half time of VO2 response whilst cycling at 115% VO2max (S; r = 0.48) and MAOD when assessed using the 5 min protocol (ml . kg-1; r = - 0.50). A stepwise multiple regression yielded the following equation , which had an r of 0.86 and a standard error of estimate of 5.7 s: IP 4000 (s) = 462.9 - 0.366 x (W(thla)) - 0.306 x (MAOD) - 0.438 X (VO2ma x) where W(thla) is in W, MAOD is in ml . kg-1 and VO2max is in ml . k g-1 . min-1. These results established that these male high performanc e track endurance cyclists had well-developed aerobic and anaerobic en ergy systems with VO2max, Th(la) and MAOD being primary important fact ors in a IP4000. Therefore, it is suggested that these variables shoul d be optimally trained and routinely monitored when preparing track en durance cyclists for competition.