Department of Sport Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Prins, L., Department of Sport Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Terblanche, E., Department of Sport Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa; Myburgh, K.H., Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
We designed a laboratory test with variable fixed intensities to simulate cross-country mountain biking and compared this to more commonly used laboratory tests and mountain bike performance. Eight competitive male mountain bikers participated in a cross-country race and subsequently did six performance tests: an individual outdoor time trial on the same course as the race and five laboratory tests. The laboratory tests were as follows: an incremental cycle test to fatigue to determine peak power output; a 26-min variable fixed-intensity protocol using an electronically braked ergometer followed immediately by a 1-km time trial using the cyclist's own bike on an electronically braked roller ergometer; two 52-min variable fixed-intensity protocols each followed by a 1-km time trial; and a 1-km time trial done on its own. Outdoor competition time and outdoor time trial time correlated significantly (r=0.79, P < 0.05). Both outdoor tests correlated better with peak power output relative to body mass (both r= -0.83, P < 0.05) than absolute peak power output (outdoor competition: r= -0.65; outdoor time trial: r= -0.66; non-significant). Outdoor performance times did not correlate with the laboratory tests. We conclude that cross-country mountain biking is similar to uphill or hilly road cycling. Further research is required to design sport-specific tests to determine the remaining unexplained variance in performance.
adult; article; athlete; bicycle ergometer; body mass; competition; ergometer; fatigue; human; human experiment; laboratory test; male; mountaineering; normal human; physical performance; simulation; sport; Adult; Bicycling; Competitive Behavior; Fatigue; Humans; Lactic Acid; Male; Monitoring, Ambulatory; South Africa; Task Performance and Analysis