Reproducibility of a Laboratory Based 20-km Time Trial Evaluation in Competitive Cyclists Using the Velotron Pro Ergometer

B. C. Sporer; D. C. McKenzie

doi:10.1055/s-2007-964977

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2007; 28(11): 940-944
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-964977

Training & Testing

Reproducibility of a Laboratory Based 20-km Time Trial Evaluation in Competitive Cyclists Using the Velotron Pro Ergometer

B. C. Sporer¹ ^, ² , D. C. McKenzie¹ ^, ³

¹Department of Human Kinetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
²Canadian Sport Centre Pacific, Victoria, Canada
³Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of a 20-km cycling time trial using the Velotron cycle ergometer in competitive cyclists. Twenty male cyclists (V·O_2max = 68.5 ± 3.6 ml · kg^-1 · min^-1; peak power (P_peak) = 469 ± 33 W) participated in this study. Each subject performed a V·O_2max test and 3 separate 20-km time trials (TT1, TT2, and TT3). Data from trials were compared using a one-way ANOVA. Coefficients of variation (CV) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated between trials. Values are mean ± SD unless otherwise noted. Performance time T_tot (30.03 ± 1.24, 30.12 ± 1.21, and 30.14 ± 1.21 min) and mean absolute power (P_mean) (326 ± 35, 323 ± 35, 322 ± 34 Watts) were not significantly different across TT1 - TT3. P_mean was highly related between TT1 - TT2 (r = 0.96; p < 0.01) and TT2 - TT3 (r = 0.97; p < 0.01). A low CV was also demonstrated between trials for P_mean (TT1 - TT2 = 2.1 %, CI = 1.6 % to 3.1 %; TT2 - TT3 = 1.9 %, CI = 1.4 % to 2.8 %). P_peak and P_mean were both correlated to T_tot in TT1 with P_mean accounting for most of the variance in T_tot (R² = 0.993). These data show that performance in a 20-km time trial using the Velotron ergometer is highly reproducible in competitive cyclists. Furthermore, the CV variance demonstrated between trials is comparable to that expected during actual performance in elite athletes.

Key words

20 km - testing - cyclists - cycling - reproducibility

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PhD Benjamin C. Sporer

University of British Columbia
Human Kinetics

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