Abstract
Functional threshold power (FTP) is defined as the highest power that a cyclist can
maintain in a quasi-steady state without fatigue for approximately 1 hour. To improve
practicality, a 20-minute time-trial test was proposed, where FTP is represented by
95% of the mean power produced. It is preceded by a specific 45-min warm-up, with
periods of low intensity, fast accelerations, and a 5-min time-trial. Thus, the aim
of this study was to determine the reliability of this protocol, including the reliability
of the warm-up, pacing strategy, and FTP determination. For this purpose, 25 trained
cyclists performed a familiarization and two other tests separated by seven days.
The coefficient of variation (CV [%]), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and
change in the mean between test and retest were calculated. The results show that
the 20-min time-trial was reliable (CV=2.9%, ICC=0.97), despite a less reliable warm-up
(CV=5.5%, ICC=0.84). The changes in the mean between the test and retest were trivial
to small for all measurements, and the pacing strategy was consistent across all trials.
These results suggest that FTP determination with a 20-min protocol was reliable in
trained cyclists.
Key words
athlete performance - exercise testing - power output - self-pacing exercise - pacing
