International journal of sports physiology and performance, 2021
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the power profile of U23 professional... more PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the power profile of U23 professional cyclists during a competitive season based on maximal mean power output (MMP) and derived critical power (CP) and work capacity above CP (W') obtained during training and racing. METHODS A total of 13 highly trained U23 professional cyclists (age = 21.1 [1.2] y, maximum oxygen consumption = 73.8 [1.9] mL·kg-1·min-1) participated in this study. The cycling season was split into pre-season and in-season. In-season was divided into early-, mid-, and late-season periods. During pre-season, a CP test was completed to derive CPtest and W'test. In addition, 2-, 5-, and 12-minute MMP during in-season were used to derive CPfield and W'field. RESULTS There were no significant differences in absolute 2-, 5-, and 12-minute MMP, CPfield, and W'field between in-season periods. Due to changes in body mass, relative 12-minute MMP was higher in late-season compared with early-season (P =...
Emerging trends in technological innovations, data analysis and practical applications have facil... more Emerging trends in technological innovations, data analysis and practical applications have facilitated the measurement of cycling power output in the field, leading to improvements in training prescription, performance testing and race analysis. This review aimed to critically reflect on power profiling strategies in association with the power-duration relationship in cycling, to provide an updated view for applied researchers and practitioners. The authors elaborate on measuring power output followed by an outline of the methodological approaches to power profiling. Moreover, the deriving a power-duration relationship section presents existing concepts of power-duration models alongside exercise intensity domains. Combining laboratory and field testing discusses how traditional laboratory and field testing can be combined to inform and individualize the power profiling approach. Deriving the parameters of power-duration modelling suggests how these measures can be obtained from la...
Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the power profile derived... more Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the power profile derived from training and racing, the training characteristics across a competitive season and the relationships between training and power profile in U23 professional cyclists. Methods: Thirty male U23 professional cyclists (age, 20.0 ± 1.0 years; weight, 68.9 ± 6.9 kg; V˙O2max, 73.7 ± 2.5 mL·kg−1·min−1) participated in this study. The cycling season was split into pre-, early-, mid- and late-season periods. Power data 2, 5, 12 min mean maximum power (MMP), critical power (CP) and training characteristics (Hours, Total Work, eTRIMP, Work·h−1, eTRIMP·h−1, TimeVT2) were recorded for each period. Power profiles derived exclusively from either training or racing data and training characteristics were compared between periods. The relationships between the changes in training characteristics and changes in the power profile were also investigated. Results: The absolute and relative power profiles w...
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the power profile, internal and external workloads,... more Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the power profile, internal and external workloads, and racing performance between U23 and professional cyclists and between varying rider types across 2 editions of a professional multistage race. Methods: Nine U23 cyclists from a Union Cycliste Internationale “Continental Team” (age 20.8 [0.9] y; body mass 71.2 [6.3] kg) and 8 professional cyclists (28.1 [3.2] y; 63.0 [4.6] kg) participated in this study. Rider types were defined as all-rounders, general classification (GC) riders, and domestiques. Data were collected during 2 editions of a 5-day professional multistage race and split into the following 4 categories: power profile, external and internal workloads, and race performance. Results: The professional group, including domestiques and GC riders, recorded higher relative power profile values after certain amounts of total work (1000–3000 kJ) than the U23 group or all-rounders (P ≤ .001–.049). No significant differences were fou...
International journal of sports physiology and performance, 2021
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the power profile of U23 professional... more PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the power profile of U23 professional cyclists during a competitive season based on maximal mean power output (MMP) and derived critical power (CP) and work capacity above CP (W') obtained during training and racing. METHODS A total of 13 highly trained U23 professional cyclists (age = 21.1 [1.2] y, maximum oxygen consumption = 73.8 [1.9] mL·kg-1·min-1) participated in this study. The cycling season was split into pre-season and in-season. In-season was divided into early-, mid-, and late-season periods. During pre-season, a CP test was completed to derive CPtest and W'test. In addition, 2-, 5-, and 12-minute MMP during in-season were used to derive CPfield and W'field. RESULTS There were no significant differences in absolute 2-, 5-, and 12-minute MMP, CPfield, and W'field between in-season periods. Due to changes in body mass, relative 12-minute MMP was higher in late-season compared with early-season (P =...
Emerging trends in technological innovations, data analysis and practical applications have facil... more Emerging trends in technological innovations, data analysis and practical applications have facilitated the measurement of cycling power output in the field, leading to improvements in training prescription, performance testing and race analysis. This review aimed to critically reflect on power profiling strategies in association with the power-duration relationship in cycling, to provide an updated view for applied researchers and practitioners. The authors elaborate on measuring power output followed by an outline of the methodological approaches to power profiling. Moreover, the deriving a power-duration relationship section presents existing concepts of power-duration models alongside exercise intensity domains. Combining laboratory and field testing discusses how traditional laboratory and field testing can be combined to inform and individualize the power profiling approach. Deriving the parameters of power-duration modelling suggests how these measures can be obtained from la...
Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the power profile derived... more Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the power profile derived from training and racing, the training characteristics across a competitive season and the relationships between training and power profile in U23 professional cyclists. Methods: Thirty male U23 professional cyclists (age, 20.0 ± 1.0 years; weight, 68.9 ± 6.9 kg; V˙O2max, 73.7 ± 2.5 mL·kg−1·min−1) participated in this study. The cycling season was split into pre-, early-, mid- and late-season periods. Power data 2, 5, 12 min mean maximum power (MMP), critical power (CP) and training characteristics (Hours, Total Work, eTRIMP, Work·h−1, eTRIMP·h−1, TimeVT2) were recorded for each period. Power profiles derived exclusively from either training or racing data and training characteristics were compared between periods. The relationships between the changes in training characteristics and changes in the power profile were also investigated. Results: The absolute and relative power profiles w...
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the power profile, internal and external workloads,... more Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the power profile, internal and external workloads, and racing performance between U23 and professional cyclists and between varying rider types across 2 editions of a professional multistage race. Methods: Nine U23 cyclists from a Union Cycliste Internationale “Continental Team” (age 20.8 [0.9] y; body mass 71.2 [6.3] kg) and 8 professional cyclists (28.1 [3.2] y; 63.0 [4.6] kg) participated in this study. Rider types were defined as all-rounders, general classification (GC) riders, and domestiques. Data were collected during 2 editions of a 5-day professional multistage race and split into the following 4 categories: power profile, external and internal workloads, and race performance. Results: The professional group, including domestiques and GC riders, recorded higher relative power profile values after certain amounts of total work (1000–3000 kJ) than the U23 group or all-rounders (P ≤ .001–.049). No significant differences were fou...
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Papers by James Spragg