Purpose: To evaluate the physiological capacities and performance of profes
sional road cyclists in relation to their morphotype-dependent speciality.
Methods: 24 world-class cyclists, classified as flat terrain (FT, N = 5), t
ime trial (TT, N = 4), all terrain (AT, N = 6), and uphill (UH, N = 9) spec
ialists, completed an incremental laboratory cycling test to assess maximal
power output (W-max), maximal oxygen uptake ((V) over dot O-2max). lactate
threshold (LT), and onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA). Results: U
H had a higher frontal area (FA):body mass (BM) ratio (5.23 +/- 0.09 m(2).k
g(-1).10(-3)) than FT and TT (P < 0.05). FT showed the highest absolute W-m
ax (481 +/- 18 W), and UH the highest W-max relative to BM (6.47 +/- 0.33 W
.kg(-1)). W-LT and W-OBLA values were significantly higher in FT (356 +/- 4
1 and 417 +/- 45 W) and TT (357 +/- 41 and 409 +/- 46 W) than in UH (308 +/
- 46 and 356 +/- 41). Scaling of these values relative to FA and BM exponen
ts 0.32 and 0.79 minimized group differences, but considerable differences
among mean group values remained. FT and TT had the highest W-max per FA un
it (1300 +/- 62 and 1293 +/- 57 W.m(2)), whereas TT had the highest absolut
e W.kg(-0.32) and W.kg(-0.79), as well as W.kg(-0.32) W.kg(-0.79) and W.m(-
2) at the LT and OBLA. Conclusions: i) Scaling of maximal and submaximal ph
ysiological values showed a performance advantage of TT over FT AT, and UH
in all cycling terrains and conditions; and ii) mass exponents of 0.32 and
I were the most appropriate to evaluate level and uphill cycling ability, r
espectively, whereas absolute W-max values are recommended for performance-
prediction in short events on level terrain, and W-LT and W-OBLA in longer
time trials and uphill cycling.