Modeling the Power-Duration Relationship in Professional Cyclists During the Giro d'Italia. Issue 4 (25th April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vinetti, Giovanni; Pollastri, Luca; Lanfranconi, Francesca; Bruseghini, Paolo; Taboni, Anna; Ferretti, Guido
• Is Part Of: Journal of strength and conditioning research. Volume 37:Issue 4(2023)
• Page Start: 866
• Page End: 871
• Publication Date: 2023-04-25
• Subjects: critical power -- maximum mean power -- power meter -- road cycling -- stage race; Physical education and training -- Periodicals; Weight training -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Physical fitness -- Periodicals; 613.7
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004350
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1064-8011

Abstract

Abstract: Vinetti, G, Pollastri, L, Lanfranconi, F, Bruseghini, P, Taboni, A, and Ferretti, G. Modeling the power-duration relationship in professional cyclists during the Giro d'Italia. J Strength Cond Res 37(4): 866–871, 2023—Multistage road bicycle races allow the assessment of maximal mean power output (MMP) over a wide spectrum of durations. By modeling the resulting power-duration relationship, the critical power ( CP ) and the curvature constant ( W′ ) can be calculated and, in the 3-parameter (3-p) model, also the maximal instantaneous power ( P 0 ). Our aim is to test the 3-p model for the first time in this context and to compare it with the 2-parameter (2-p) model. A team of 9 male professional cyclists participated in the 2014 Giro d'Italia with a crank-based power meter. The maximal mean power output between 10 seconds and 10 minutes were fitted with 3-p, whereas those between 1 and 10 minutes with the 2- model. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. 3-p yielded CP 357 ± 29 W, W′ 13.3 ± 4.2 kJ, and P 0 1, 330 ± 251 W with a SEE of 10 ± 5 W, 3.0 ± 1.7 kJ, and 507 ± 528 W, respectively. 2-p yielded a CP and W′ slightly higher (+4 ± 2 W) and lower (−2.3 ± 1.1 kJ), respectively ( p < 0.001 for both). Model predictions were within ±10 W of the 20-minute MMP of time-trial stages. In conclusion, during a single multistage racing event, the 3-p model accurately described the power-duration relationship over a wider MMP range without physiologically relevant differences in CP with respect to 2-p, potentially offering a noninvasive tool to evaluate competitive cyclists at the peak of training.