How simulated lead-up exercice-induced fatigue affects the sprint performance in elite road cyclists?

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the effects of one-minute fatiguing exercise simulating the approach to a final sprint in road cycling on the capacity to produce maximal power output during that sprint. Twelve elite male cyclists participated in a single test session. First, cyclists performed a force-velocity (F-V) test on a cycle ergometer to determine their maximal force-velocity-power (F-V-P) profiles. Second, after one minute at 6.4 ± 0.4 W·kg⁻¹ with power variations simulating the approach to a final sprint in road cycling, they immediately performed a 5-s single sprint F-V test to assess the alteration of the F-V-P profile (POST-1MIN). Finally, they directly performed 15-s isokinetic sprint 82.5% of V_opt, immediately following by a 5-s single sprint F-V test to assess the final alteration of F-V-P profile (END). Results show that this one-minute exercise led to a significant reduction in maximal power (−25 ± 7%), maximal force (−9 ± 7%), and optimal pedaling rate (−17 ± 7%), with a more pronounced decrease in velocity capabilities for initiating the final sprint, highlighting a state of fatigue. Then, at the end of the final sprint, maximal power further decreased by 18 ± 7%, with a “parallel” shift in the F-V profile. The mean power output during the final sprint was strongly associated with the P_max determined after the one-minute exercise. These results highlight that determining the F-V-P profile under fatigued conditions seems essential to better assess the sprint performance ability of riders in competition.