Scientific approach to the 1-h cycling world record: a case study

The purpose of this study was to describe the physiological and aerodynamic characteristics and the preparation for a successful attempt to break the l-h cycling world record. An elite professional road cyclist (30 yr, 188 cm , 81 kg) performed an incremental laboratory test to assess maximal power o utput (W-max) and power output (W-OBLA), estimated speed (V-OBLA), and hear t rate (HROBLA) at the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA). He also completed an incremental velodrome (cycling track) test (VT1), during which V-OBLAVT1 and HROBLAVT1 were measured and W-OBLAVT1 was estimated. W-max w as 572 W,W-OBLA 505 W, V-OBLA 52.88 km/h, and HROBLA 183 beats/min. V-OBLAV T1, HROBLAVT1, and W-OBLAVT1 were 52.7 km/h, 180 beats/min, and 500.6 W, re spectively. Drag coefficient and shape coefficient, measured in a wind tunn el, were 0.244 and 0.65 m(2), respectively. The cyclist set a world record of 53,040 m, with an estimated average power output of 509.5 W. Based on di rect laboratory data of the power vs, oxygen uptake relationship for this c yclist, this is slightly higher than the 497.25 W corresponding to his oxyg en uptake at OBLA (5.65 l/min). In conclusion, 1) the 1-h cycling world rec ord is the result of the interaction between physiological and aerodynamic characteristics; and 2) performance in this event can be predicted using ma thematical models that integrate the principal performance-determining vari ables.