Power Assessment in Road Cycling: A Narrative Review
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Information Sources
2.2. Study Inclusion Criteria
2.3. Study Exclusion Criteria
3. Review of the Literature
3.1. Relationship between Functional Threshold Power and Laboratory Thresholds
3.2. FTP Testing Durations
3.3. Power Profiling in Road Cycling
3.4. Cadence and Power Output
3.5. Limitations
4. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Study | Sample | FTP Estimation Method | Laboratory Threshold Estimation Method | Results | Practical Application |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Borszcz et al., 2018 [42] | 23 trained male cyclists (VO2max 59.4 ± 5.9 mL/kg/min). | 95% of 20-min maximal power output and 60-min mean power output. | 1.5 mmol/L above the point of minimum ratio between La and work rate. | Large to very large correlations were found between LT and FTP20 (r = 0.61) and between LT and FTP60 (r = 0.76) for PO. | Both tests are more related to LT than 8-min tests. FTP and LT should not be used interchangeably unless tested on an individual basis. |
Borszcz et al., 2019 [27] | 7 trained (VO2max 55–64.9 mL/kg/min) and 8 well-trained (VO2max 65–71 mL/kg/min) cyclists. | 95% of 20-min maximal power output. | Highest exercise intensity in which La did not show an increase of >1 mmol/L. | r = 0.91 between FTP and LT. Well-trained group showed a higher association with the PO measures (r = 0.94) than the trained group (r = 0.91). | FTP can be used as a non-invasive and practical alternative for estimating LT. |
Bossi et al., 2017 [46] | 15 trained cyclists (VO2max 56.1 ± 7.7 mL/kg/min). | 95% of 20-min maximal power output. | VT and RCP. | r = 0.80 between FTP (W/kg) and RCP. r = 0. 59 between FTP and VT. | FTP determined from a 20-min test is strongly related to laboratory variables. |
Inglis et al., 2020 [44] | 18 competitive cyclists. | 95% of 20-min maximal power output. | MLSS. | PO at MLSS represents 93.1% of PO at FTP. | PO at FTP is higher than PO at MLSS. |
Gavin et al., 2012 [25] | 7 trained male competitive cyclists (VO2max = 65.3 ± 1.6 mL/kg/min). | 90% of 8-min maximal power output. | 1 mmol/L or greater rise in blood La and blood La of 4.0 mmol/L. | PO at estimated FTP from the 8-min FTP was significantly greater than the PO at LTD1 but not different from the PO at LT4.0. | FTP was only equivalent to LT at 4.0 mmol/L. |
Jeffries et al., 2019 [26] | 20 competitive male cyclists. | 95% of 20-min maximal power output. | Fixed blood La concentration 4.0 mmol/L, Dmax and modified Dmax. | FTP was strongly correlated (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) with the PO associated with a fixed blood La concentration 4.0 mmol/L but no association was found with other measures. | FTP was only associated to LT at 4.0 mmol/L. |
Klika et al., 2007 [49] | 24 recreational cyclists (VO2max 46.2 mL/kg/min). | 90% of 8-min maximal power output. | Power at which blood La increased 1 mmol/L above baseline. | FTP was approximately 7.5% higher than LTmeasured under laboratory conditions. | Adjustments are needed when using FTP and LT interchangeably. |
McGrath et al., 2019 [43] | 19 highly trained cyclists and triathletes (VO2max 66.3 ± 5.5 mL/kg/min). | 95% of 20-min power output. | Dmax. | 89% of athletes sustained FTP during 60-min. r = 0.89 between Dmax and FTP. | FTP represents a quasi-steady state that can be sustained for one hour. |
Nimmerichter et al., 2010 [45] | 15 competitive male cyclists (VO2max 65 ± 4 mL/kg/min). | 20 and 4-min maximal power output. | VT; RCP, nonlinear increases in La vs. power output. | PO during the 20-min time trial correlated with PO at the second lactate turn point and the RCP. | PO during 20-min time trial has acceptable accuracy to determine laboratory markers. |
Sanders et al., 2017 [48] | 19 well-trained road cyclists (VO2max 64 ± 4 mL/kg/min). | 90% of 8-min maximal power output. | 4 mmol/L, initial rise of 1 mmol/L above baseline, Dmax, and modified Dmax. | FTP very largely different than Dmax, largely different than PO at initial lactate rise of 1 mmol/L and moderately different than PO at 4 mmol/L and mDmax. | The 8-min FTP test is recommended as a tool for endurance assessment but cannot be used interchangeably with LT. |
Valenzuela et al., 2018 [24] | 11 recreational (peak power output <4.5 W/kg) and 9 trained (peak power output >4.5 W/kg) cyclists. | 95% of 20-min maximal power output. | Dmax. | Strong correlation between FTP and LT (r = 0.95; p < 0.0001) but FTP was significantly lower (p = 0.0004) in recreational cyclists. | FTP can be used for the assessment of endurance fitness. However, it may underestimate LT in recreational cyclists. |
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Sitko, S.; Cirer-Sastre, R.; Corbi, F.; López-Laval, I. Power Assessment in Road Cycling: A Narrative Review. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5216. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125216
Sitko S, Cirer-Sastre R, Corbi F, López-Laval I. Power Assessment in Road Cycling: A Narrative Review. Sustainability. 2020; 12(12):5216. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125216
Chicago/Turabian StyleSitko, Sebastian, Rafel Cirer-Sastre, Francisco Corbi, and Isaac López-Laval. 2020. "Power Assessment in Road Cycling: A Narrative Review" Sustainability 12, no. 12: 5216. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125216