Cross-Sectional Differences in Race Demands Between Junior, Under 23, and Professional Road Cyclists

  1. Filipas, Luca 89
  2. Leo, Peter 2
  3. Gallo, Gabriele 1
  4. Ruggeri, Piero 1
  5. Giorgi, Andrea 45
  6. Mujika, Iñigo 67
  7. Faelli, Emanuela 1
  8. Mateo-March, Manuel 3
  1. 1 University of Genoa
    info

    University of Genoa

    Génova, Italia

    ROR https://ror.org/0107c5v14

  2. 2 University of Innsbruck
    info

    University of Innsbruck

    Innsbruck, Austria

    ROR https://ror.org/054pv6659

  3. 3 Spanish Cycling Federation, Madrid
  4. 4 the Androni Giocattoli–Sidermec Professional Cycling Team
  5. 5 Unità operativa complessa Recupero e rieducazione funzionale, Azienda USL Toscana Sud-Est
  6. 6 Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
    info

    Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

    Lejona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/000xsnr85

  7. 7 Universidad Finis Terrae
    info

    Universidad Finis Terrae

    Santiago de Chile, Chile

    ROR https://ror.org/0225snd59

  8. 8 Dept of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano
  9. 9 Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
    info

    Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

    Milán, Italia

    ROR https://ror.org/016zn0y21

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Journal:
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

ISSN: 1555-0265,  1555-0273

Year of publication: 2022

Pages: 1-8

Type: Article

DOI: 10.1123/IJSPP.2021-0256 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the race demands of junior (JUN), under 23 (U23), and professional (PRO) road cyclists. Methods: Thirty male cyclists, divided into 3 age-related categories (JUN, n = 10; U23, n = 10; and PRO, n = 10), participated in this study. Race data collected during the 2019 competitive season were retrospectively analyzed for race characteristics, external, and internal competition load. Results: Higher annual and per race duration, distance, elevation gain, Edward’s training impulse, total work, and work per hour were observed in PRO versus U23 and JUN, and U23 versus JUN (P < .01). PRO and U23 recorded higher mean maximal power (RPOs) between 5 and 180 minutes compared with JUN (P < .01). Edward’s training impulse per hour was higher in JUN than PRO and U23 (P < .01). Accordingly, JUN spent a higher percentage of racing time in high internal intensity zones compared with U23 and PRO, while these 2 categories spent more time at low internal intensity zones (P < .01). Conclusions: JUN races were shorter and included less elevation gain per distance unit compared to U23 and PRO races, but more internally demanding. JUN produced less power output in the moderate-, heavy-, and severe-intensity exercise domains compared with U23 and PRO (RPOs: 5–180 min). U23 and PRO races presented similar work demands per hour and RPOs, but PRO races were longer than U23.

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