Sprinting for the win: Distribution of power output in women's professional cycling
Abstract
PURPOSE: To examine the power-output distribution and sprint characteristics of professional female road cyclists.
METHODS: A total of 31 race files, representing top 5 finishes, were collected from 7 professional female cyclists. Files were analyzed for sprint characteristics, including mean and peak power output, velocity, and duration. The final 20 min before the sprint was analyzed to determine the mean maximal power output (MMP) consistent with durations of 5, 15, 30, 60, 240, and 600 s. Throughout the race, the number of efforts for each duration exceeding 80% of its corresponding final 20-min MMP (MMP
RESULTS: Sprint finishes lasted 21.8 (6.7) s with mean and peak power outputs of 679 (101) and 886 (91) W, respectively. Throughout the race, additional 5-, 15-, and 30-s efforts above MMP
CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the variable nature of women's professional cycling and the physical demands necessary for success, thus providing information that could enhance in-race decision making and the development of race-specific training programs.
Document Type
Journal Article
ISSN
1555-0273
Volume
13
Issue
9
PubMed ID
29688105
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences / Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research
RAS ID
28709
Copyright
subscription content
Publisher
Human Kinetics, Inc.
Comments
Peiffer, J. J., Abbiss, C. R., Haakonssen, E. C., & Menaspà, P. (2018). Sprinting for the win: Distribution of power output in women’s professional cycling. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 13(9). 1237-1242.
Available here.