A novel submaximal cycle test to monitor fatigue and predict cycling performance

TLDR

The study aimed to determine whether a novel submaximal cycle protocol could reliably predict peak power and endurance performance in well‑trained cyclists. Seventeen elite male cyclists performed four peak‑power and 40‑km time‑trial tests, each preceded by the LSCT that recorded power, speed, cadence, RPE across three heart‑rate‑matched stages and heart‑rate recovery afterward. LSCT parameters were highly reliable and strongly correlated with peak power and 40‑km time‑trial performance, with mean power showing the strongest associations, indicating the test can predict and monitor cycling performance more accurately than VO₂max.

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and predictive value of performance parameters, measured by a new novel submaximal cycle protocol, on peak power and endurance cycling performance in well-trained cyclists. Methods Seventeen well-trained competitive male road racing cyclists completed four peak power output (PPO) tests and four 40-km time trials (40-km TT). Before each test, all cyclists performed a novel submaximal cycle test (Lamberts and Lambert Submaximal Cycle Test (LSCT)). Parameters associated with performance such as power, speed, cadence and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during the three stages of the test when cyclists rode at workloads coinciding with fixed predetermined heart rates. Heart rate recovery (HRR) was measured after the last stage of the test. Results Parameters measured during the second and third stages of the LSCT were highly reliable (intraclass correlation range: R=0.85−1.00) with low typical error of measurements (range: 1.3−4.4%). Good relationships were found between the LSCT and cycling performance measured by the PPO and 40-km TT tests. Mean power had stronger relationships with measures of cycling performance during the second (r=0.80−0.89) and third stages (r=0.91−0.94) of the LSCT than HRR (r=0.55−0.68). Conclusions The LSCT is a reliable novel test which is able to predict peak and endurance cycling performance from submaximal power, RPE and HRR in well-trained cyclists. As these parameters are able to detect meaningful changes more accurately than VO 2max , the LSCT has the potential to monitor cycling performance with more precision than other current existing submaximal cycle protocols.