Studies using SRM data

fergie

Three studies on SRM data from racing and apparently more on the way!!!

Hamish Ferguson
Cycling Coach

Power output during women’s World Cup road cycle racing

Tammie R. Ebert, David T. Martin, Warren McDonald, James Victor, John Plummer and Robert T. Withers

European Journal of Applied Physiology
Issue: Volume 95, Numbers 5-6
Date: December 2005
Pages: 529 - 536

Abstract Little information exists on the power output demands of competitive women’s road cycle racing. The purpose of our investigation was to document the power output generated by elite female road cyclists who achieved success in FLAT and HILLY World Cup races. Power output data were collected from 27 top-20 World Cup finishes (19 FLAT and 8 HILLY) achieved by 15 nationally ranked cyclists (mean ± SD; age: 24.1±4.0 years; body mass: 57.9±3.6 kg; height: 168.7±5.6 cm; vO2 63.6±2.4 mL kg−1 min−1; peak power during graded exercise test (GXTpeak power): 310±25 W). The GXT determined GXTpeak power, lactate threshold (LT) and anaerobic threshold (AT). Bicycles were fitted with SRM powermeters, which recorded power (W), cadence (rpm), distance (km) and speed (km h−1). Racing data were analysed to establish time in power output and metabolic threshold bands and maximal mean power (MMP) over different durations. When compared to HILLY, FLAT were raced at a similar cadence (75±8 vs. 75±4 rpm, P=0.93) but higher speed (37.6±2.6 vs. 33.9±2.7 km h−1, P=0.008) and power output (192±21 vs. 169±17 W, P=0.04; 3.3±0.3 vs. 3.0±0.4 W kg−1, P=0.04). During FLAT races, riders spent significantly more time above 500 W, while greater race time was spent between 100 and 300 W (LT-AT) for HILLY races, with higher MMPs for 180–300 s. Racing terrain influenced the power output profiles of our internationally competitive female road cyclists. These data are the first to define the unique power output requirements associated with placing well in both flat and hilly women’s World Cup cycling events.

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Power Output during Stage Racing in Professional Road Cycling.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 38(1):147-151, January 2006.

VOGT, STEFAN; HEINRICH, LOTHAR; SCHUMACHER, YORCK OLAF; BLUM, ANDREAS; ROECKER, KAI; DICKHUTH, HANS-HERMANN; SCHMID, ANDREAS

Abstract:
Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the power output during a multistage professional road race using direct power measurements and to compare these results with the performance measurements using competition heart rate recordings.

Methods: Six professional road cyclists performed an incremental cycling test during which peak power output, power output, and heart rate at the lactate threshold (LT) and at a lactate increase of 1 mM above the LT (LT + 1) were assessed. During a six-stage road race competition, power output was measured directly (SRM crankset). To analyze the time spent at different intensities during competition, the amount of competition time spent below LT (zone 1), between the LT and LT + 1 (zone 2), and above LT + 1 (zone 3) determined during laboratory testing were calculated for power output and heart rate.

Results: During the five mass start stages, a mean power output of 220 +/- 22 W (3.1 +/- 0.2 W[middle dot]kg-1) with a mean heart rate of 142 +/- 5 bpm was measured. Average power output during an uphill time trial was 392 +/- 60 W (5.5 +/- 0.4 W[middle dot]kg-1) with a mean heart rate of 169 +/- 3 bpm. For the mass start stages, the average distribution of exercise time spent in different intensities calculated for power output and heart rate was 58 versus 38% for zone 1, 14 versus 38% for zone 2, and 28 versus 24% for zone 3.

Conclusion: Most of the competition time during the mass start stages was spent at intensities near the LT. Compared with power output, heart rate measurement underestimated the time spent at intensity zones 1 and 3, and overestimated the time spent in zone 2.

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Power output demands of elite track sprint cycling.
Authors: Gardner, Andrew S.; Martin, David T.; Barras, Martin; Jenkins, David G.; Hahn, Allan G.

Source: International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, Volume 5, Number 3, December 2005, pp. 149-154(6)

Abstract:

Competition analysis can be used to describe the complex physical demands of elite sport. This information can be used to design sport specific training sessions that replicate critical aspects of competition. Additionally, in some cases, competition analysis can be used to identify an athlete's strengths and weaknesses. The ultimate goal of this research was to improve Australian Coaches' understanding of both elite Domestic and International competition of elite track sprint cycling so that specific training practices could be productively refined.

Three elite male sprint cyclists (19-33 yrs; 82-101 kg; 39-47 mm sum 7 skinfolds; 1729–2282 W lab peak power) were monitored during 18 Domestic (DOM) and 18 International (INT) semi-final and final match sprint races using calibrated SRM power meters (Julich, Germany, professional version). The 36 race profiles used for analysis were matched so that each group of 18 had the same number of cyclists contributing races from the same number of semi-final and final race efforts.

Although not statistically significant it appears that international match sprint racing tends to be associated with a slightly lower peak (∼70W, 3.6%) and higher average (∼54W, 10%) power output. Further research is required to understand whether these differences are meaningful and whether specific training programs could be tailored to these unique demands.

We have documented peak and sustained power output during sprint cycling that establish new extremes in human physiology. A greater understanding of those physiological traits that are required for success at the highest level of match sprinting may be obtained by comparing data collected from winners vs losers in the final rounds of competition.