Does Laboratory Testing Have Predictive and Practical Value for Cycling Performance?

Abstract

Athletes spend very little of their training time in the laboratory, yet, laboratory measures of performance can significantly affect a coaches' decision as to how the athlete will be trained. When athletes train in preparation for competition, and when competing, are measures of physiological function in the field the same as what is observed in the laboratory, and do the measures of laboratory performance on an athlete have predictive value for training or competition outside of the laboratory? Markers that have historically been used to determine successful cycling performance are maximal aerobic capacity (V̇DO₂max), the ability to exercise at a high percentage of V̇DO₂max (% V̇DO₂max), cycling economy / efficiency, and a variety of “threshold” measures. “Threshold” measures are unlikely to be useful for predicting successful, high-intensity endurance cycling performance, but tracking of changes in V̇DO₂max, %V̇DO₂max, peak power output (PPO) and cycling economy/efficiency are useful laboratory measures that successfully predict successful field cycling performance Monitoring heart rate during training and competition may be the more important measure since it potentially reflects the regulation of a central brain controller.