Antidoping 2.0: Is Adding Power-Output Data to the Antidoping Pool the Next Step? Experts' Viewpoint.

Background: Efforts are needed to improve antidoping procedures. The widespread use of power meters among cyclists could help in this regard. However, controversy exists on whether performance monitoring through power-output data could be of help for antidoping purposes.

Opposite effects of a time-trial and endurance cycling exercise on the neural efficiency of competitive cyclists.

Purpose: Time-trial require cyclists to have an acute control on their sensory cues to regulate their pacing strategies. Pacing an effort accurately requires an individual to process sensory signals with efficacy, a factor that can be characterized by a high neural efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a cycling time-trial on neural efficiency in comparison to a low intensity endurance exercise, the latter supposedly not requiring high sensory control.

Caveats and Recommendations to Assess the Validity and Reliability of Cycling Power Meters: A Systematic Scoping Review.

A large number of power meters have become commercially available during the last decades to provide power output (PO) measurement. Some of these power meters were evaluated for validity in the literature. This study aimed to perform a review of the available literature on the validity of cycling power meters.

Neural Efficiency and Ability to Produce Accurate Efforts in Different Perceived Intensity Zones.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between neural efficiency and the ability of an athlete to produce accurate efforts in different perceived intensity zones during a racing scenario. The α/β ratio was used to quantify the neural efficiency during cycling, as it traduced the degree of participants information processing activity with lower cortical activity possible. Twelve trained competitive male cyclists delimited their perceived intensity zones 2 to 6 on a scale to assess the rating of exercise intensity.

Strategies for improving the pedaling technique.

Introduction: Pedaling technique which can be defined as the way the cyclists pedal, has been mostly studied in lab conditions from pedal force kinetic, joints kinematic, and/or muscular activity patterns because it is considered as a main factor for gross efficiency (GE). Although this method is much controversial, its quality has extensively been evaluated from the index of pedal force effectiveness (IFE), i.e.

The Influence of Pleasure and Attentional Focus on Performance and Pacing Strategies in Elite Individual Time Trials.

Unlabelled: Recent psychophysiological models of endurance performance explained that pacing strategies and exercise-intensity regulation influence cyclists' ability to produce high mean power output (PO) during time trials (TTs). However, the relationships between these pacing strategies and psychological parameters of the athletes remain unknown.

Purpose: To determine the impact of pacing strategies on cyclists' mean PO during an elite TT championship and to identify the relationships between these pacing strategies and psychological parameters.

Effect of environmental feedbacks on pacing strategy and affective load during a self-paced 30 min cycling time trial.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the pacing strategy and its affective consequences during self-paced cycling time trials (TT) performed at different severity of hypoxia. Eight competitive cyclists performed five 30 min self-paced TTs at their best performance in the following conditions: 1) normobaric normoxia (NN); 2) normobaric hypoxia under two simulated altitudes: 2000 m (NH) and 3500 m (NH) and 3) normobaric hypoxia but the cyclists were deceived and thought to be at sea level for 2000 m (DecNH) and 3500 m (DecNH). Power Output (PO), oxygen uptake (VO), and blood lactate concentration ([La]) were recorded to assess exercise intensity and physiological adaptations.

Thermal Sensations during a Partial-Body Cryostimulation Exposure in Elite Basketball Players.

Partial-body cryostimulation is used to improve recovery after exercise, especially during competitions or heavy training; however, a limited number of studies have been conducted with international-level athletes in situ during competitions. This study was undertaken to assess the thermal sensation ratings during 3 min of cold exposure (at -130°C) in 24 international-level athletes during the European Basketball Championship. The mean thermal sensation score, measured using a perceptive scale, increased significantly (p < 0.

Mechanisms of Performance Improvements Due to a Leading Teammate During Uphill Cycling.

Purpose: To identify the impact of a leading teammate in front of a cyclist on psychological, physiological, biomechanical, and performance parameters during an uphill maximal effort.

Methods: After familiarization, 12 well-trained competitive cyclists completed 2 uphill time trials (UTTs, 2.7 km at 7.

Influence of standing position on mechanical and energy costs in uphill cycling.

This study was designed to examine the influence of standing position (vs. seated) during uphill cycling on both mechanical cost (MC) and energy cost (EC) in elite cyclists. For the study, thirteen elite cyclists (VO: 71.

Physiological and biomechanical responses between seated and standing positions during distance‑based uphill time trials in elite cyclists.

Cyclists regularly change from a seated to a standing position when the gradient increases during uphill cycling. The aim of this study was to analyse the physiological and biomechanical responses between seated and standing positions during distance-based uphill time trials in elite cyclists. Thirteen elite cyclists completed two testing sessions that included an incremental-specific cycling test on a cycle ergometer to determine VO and three distance-based uphill time trials in the field to determine physiological and biomechanical variables.

Validation of a new whole-body cryotherapy chamber based on forced convection.

Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) and partial-body cryotherapy (PBC) are two methods of cold exposure (from -110 to -195°C according to the manufacturers). However, temperature measurement in the cold chamber during a PBC exposure revealed temperatures ranging from -25 to -50°C next to the skin of the subjects (using isolating layer placed between the sensor and the skin). This discrepancy is due to the human body heat transfer.

Validity, Sensitivity, Reproducibility, and Robustness of the PowerTap, Stages, and Garmin Vector Power Meters in Comparison With the SRM Device.

Unlabelled: A large number of power meters have been produced on the market for nearly 20 y according to user requirements.

Purpose: To determine the validity, sensitivity, reproducibility, and robustness of the PowerTap (PWT), Stages (STG), and Garmin Vector (VCT) power meters in comparison with the SRM device.

Methods: A national-level male competitive cyclist completed 3 laboratory cycling tests: a submaximal incremental test, a submaximal 30-min continuous test, and a sprint test.

Whole- and partial-body cryostimulation/cryotherapy: Current technologies and practical applications.

Cold therapy is commonly used as a method to relieve pain and inflammation. This review focuses primarily on two methods of cold therapy that have received recent attention: whole-body cryotherapy and partial-body cryotherapy. These methods are used to induce physiological and psychological benefits in humans in the context of medicine, health and sports.

Effects of a Non-Circular Chainring on Sprint Performance During a Cycle Ergometer Test.

Non-circular chainrings have been reported to alter the crank angular velocity profile over a pedal revolution so that more time is spent in the effective power phase. The purpose of this study was to determine whether sprint cycling performance could be improved using a non-circular chainring (Osymetric: ellipticity 1.25 and crank lever mounted nearly perpendicular to the major axis), in comparison with a circular chainring.

Dependence of the Nature of the Pedaling Activity on Maximal Aerobic Power in Cycling.

Purpose: To analyze the effect of the pedaling activity in different 4-min time trials (TT4s) (laboratory and field conditions) and compare TT4 and maximal aerobic power (MAP) determined from the classical incremental exercise test in laboratory. It was hypothesized that the exercises performed on the field would determine higher physical (power output [PO]) and mental involvements due to different environmental conditions.

Methods: Sixteen male cyclists underwent an incremental test to exhaustion and 3 TT4s under different conditions: cycle ergometer (CE), level ground (LG), and uphill (UP).

Benefits of Compression Garments Worn During Handball-Specific Circuit on Short-Term Fatigue in Professional Players.

Ravier, G, Bouzigon, R, Beliard, S, Tordi, N, and Grappe, F. Benefits of compression garments worn during handball-specific circuit on short-term fatigue in professional players. J Strength Cond Res 32(12): 3528-3536, 2018-The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of full-leg length compression garments (CGs) worn during a handball-specific circuit exercises on athletic performance and acute fatigue-induced changes in strength and muscle soreness in professional handball players.

A six-year monitoring case study of a top-10 cycling Grand Tour finisher.

This study analysed the evolution of the physical potential of a twice top-10 Grand Tour cycling finisher (Tour de France and Vuelta a España) whose training was monitored between the ages of 18 and 23 years. The world-class cyclist's power output (PO) data and training indices were analysed over six years to determine the evolution of his record power profile and training load (TL), which were estimated by using the session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) method. The total annual duration and TL increased through six seasons by 79% and 83%, respectively.

Accuracy of indirect estimation of power output from uphill performance in cycling.

Purpose: To use measurement by cycling power meters (Pmes) to evaluate the accuracy of commonly used models for estimating uphill cycling power (Pest). Experiments were designed to explore the influence of wind speed and steepness of climb on accuracy of Pest. The authors hypothesized that the random error in Pest would be largely influenced by the windy conditions, the bias would be diminished in steeper climbs, and windy conditions would induce larger bias in Pest.

Gross efficiency and cycling economy are higher in the field as compared with on an Axiom stationary ergometer.

This study was designed to examine the biomechanical and physiological responses between cycling on the Axiom stationary ergometer (Axiom, Elite, Fontaniva, Italy) vs. field conditions for both uphill and level ground cycling. Nine cyclists performed cycling bouts in the laboratory on an Axiom stationary ergometer and on their personal road bikes in actual road cycling conditions in the field with three pedaling cadences during uphill and level cycling.

Aerodynamic drag in cycling: methods of assessment.

When cycling on level ground at a speed greater than 14 m/s, aerodynamic drag is the most important resistive force. About 90% of the total mechanical power output is necessary to overcome it. Aerodynamic drag is mainly affected by the effective frontal area which is the product of the projected frontal area and the coefficient of drag.

Validity and reproducibility of the ErgomoPro power meter compared with the SRM and Powertap power meters.

Purpose: The ErgomoPro (EP) is a power meter that measures power output (PO) during outdoor and indoor cycling via 2 optoelectronic sensors located in the bottom bracket axis. The aim of this study was to determine the validity and the reproducibility of the EP compared with the SRM crank set and Powertap hub (PT).

Methods: The validity of the EP was tested in the laboratory during 8 submaximal incremental tests (PO: 100 to 400 W), eight 30-min submaximal constant-power tests (PO = 180 W), and 8 sprint tests (PO > 750 W) and in the field during 8 training sessions (time: 181 +/- 73 min; PO: approximately 140 to 160 W).

Laboratory versus outdoor cycling conditions: differences in pedaling biomechanics.

The aim of our study was to compare crank torque profile and perceived exertion between the Monark ergometer (818 E) and two outdoor cycling conditions: level ground and uphill road cycling. Seven male cyclists performed seven tests in seated position at different pedaling cadences: (a) in the laboratory at 60, 80, and 100 rpm; (b) on level terrain at 80 and 100 rpm; and (c) on uphill terrain (9.25% grade) at 60 and 80 rpm.

Effects on the crank torque profile when changing pedalling cadence in level ground and uphill road cycling.

Despite the importance of uphill cycling performance during cycling competitions, there is very little research investigating uphill cycling, particularly concerning field studies. The lack of research is partly due to the difficulties in obtaining data in the field. The aim of this study was to analyse the crank torque in road cycling on level and uphill using different pedalling cadences in the seated position.