Several authors analyzed the performance of professional cyclists during top-level stage races (e.g., Tour de France, Giro, and Vuelta) by monitoring heart rate (HR) (Lucia 1999, 2003, Fernardez-Garcia 2000) and/or mechanical power (P) (Padilla 2001, Vogt 2006, 2007). The previous studies compared the effort required by stages with different characteristics, while little is known on the differences between cyclists according to their role in the team. This study aimed to compare the team leader performance (L) with the domestiques helping when climbing uphill (DUP), or on flat road (DFL), during Giro d’Italia. HR and P produced at the pedal were continuously monitored using the SRM system in 9 cyclists of one team (1 L, 5 DUP, 3 DFL) during 19 stages of the Giro d’Italia 2012. Four weeks before the race, all the cyclists performed an incremental test. Blood lactate concentration (LA), HR and P were measured. For each athlete, four HR and P intensity ranges were calculated on the basis of LA values (< 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, > 4 mmol/l). The mean HR and P of the 9 cyclists in the 19 examined stages were 120 bpm/200 W for flat stages, 133 bpm/231 W for middle mountain stages, and 135 bpm/241 W for high mountain stages. The time spent at an intensity corresponding to a LA of > 2 mmol/l was 17.7%, 16.3%, and 11.5% of total time in high mountain, middle mountain and flat stages, respectively. DFL and L showed a higher absolute power (respectively 243 and 230 W) than DUP (208 W). However, this difference disappeared when considering the power standardized for body weight. L showed an effort higher than all his team mates in all stages, while DFL and DUP spent more energy respectively in flat or mountain stages, consistently with their role. HR showed a trend similar to that of P, with slightly lower times spent in the 4 intensity ranges. In conclusion, all the cyclists tended to use as much as possible the lipid metabolism, remaining for a long time (about 85% of total) at an intensity lower than 2 mmol/l of LA. In high-mountain stages, the cyclists spent very little time at an intensity above 4 mmol/l of LA. The different performance characteristics observed in the examined roles may be explained by individual anthropometric and physical features, but also by tactical aspects forcing the cyclists to perform particular efforts according to their role in the team. References Lucia A., Hoyos J., Carvajal A., Chicharro J.L. (1999) Int. J. Sport Med., 20 167-172 Padillia S., Mujika I., Orbananos J., et al. (2001) Med. & Sci. in sport & Ex., 33 796-802 Vogt S., Shumacher Y.O., Blum A., et al. (2007) J. Sport Sci., 25 1299-1305

Merni, F., Marangoni, S., Di Michele, R. (2014). Performance characteristics during the giro d’italia: comparison between roles in the team. Zagreb : University of Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology.

Performance characteristics during the giro d’italia: comparison between roles in the team

MERNI, FRANCO;DI MICHELE, ROCCO
2014

Abstract

Several authors analyzed the performance of professional cyclists during top-level stage races (e.g., Tour de France, Giro, and Vuelta) by monitoring heart rate (HR) (Lucia 1999, 2003, Fernardez-Garcia 2000) and/or mechanical power (P) (Padilla 2001, Vogt 2006, 2007). The previous studies compared the effort required by stages with different characteristics, while little is known on the differences between cyclists according to their role in the team. This study aimed to compare the team leader performance (L) with the domestiques helping when climbing uphill (DUP), or on flat road (DFL), during Giro d’Italia. HR and P produced at the pedal were continuously monitored using the SRM system in 9 cyclists of one team (1 L, 5 DUP, 3 DFL) during 19 stages of the Giro d’Italia 2012. Four weeks before the race, all the cyclists performed an incremental test. Blood lactate concentration (LA), HR and P were measured. For each athlete, four HR and P intensity ranges were calculated on the basis of LA values (< 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, > 4 mmol/l). The mean HR and P of the 9 cyclists in the 19 examined stages were 120 bpm/200 W for flat stages, 133 bpm/231 W for middle mountain stages, and 135 bpm/241 W for high mountain stages. The time spent at an intensity corresponding to a LA of > 2 mmol/l was 17.7%, 16.3%, and 11.5% of total time in high mountain, middle mountain and flat stages, respectively. DFL and L showed a higher absolute power (respectively 243 and 230 W) than DUP (208 W). However, this difference disappeared when considering the power standardized for body weight. L showed an effort higher than all his team mates in all stages, while DFL and DUP spent more energy respectively in flat or mountain stages, consistently with their role. HR showed a trend similar to that of P, with slightly lower times spent in the 4 intensity ranges. In conclusion, all the cyclists tended to use as much as possible the lipid metabolism, remaining for a long time (about 85% of total) at an intensity lower than 2 mmol/l of LA. In high-mountain stages, the cyclists spent very little time at an intensity above 4 mmol/l of LA. The different performance characteristics observed in the examined roles may be explained by individual anthropometric and physical features, but also by tactical aspects forcing the cyclists to perform particular efforts according to their role in the team. References Lucia A., Hoyos J., Carvajal A., Chicharro J.L. (1999) Int. J. Sport Med., 20 167-172 Padillia S., Mujika I., Orbananos J., et al. (2001) Med. & Sci. in sport & Ex., 33 796-802 Vogt S., Shumacher Y.O., Blum A., et al. (2007) J. Sport Sci., 25 1299-1305
2014
BOOK OF ABSTRACTS World Congress of Performance Analysis of Sport X
140
141
Merni, F., Marangoni, S., Di Michele, R. (2014). Performance characteristics during the giro d’italia: comparison between roles in the team. Zagreb : University of Zagreb, Faculty of Kinesiology.
Merni, F.; Marangoni, S.; Di Michele, R.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/556098
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