Abstract
Maximal aerobic power and time-to-exhaustion at maximal aerobic power are
critical for cycling performance, yet the role of maximal lower-body strength in
enhancing these metrics across sex, category, and discipline in cyclists remains
underexplored. This study investigated the relationships between 1RM, maximal
aerobic power, and time-to-exhaustion at maximal aerobic power in 69 high-level
and professional cyclists from the same national team, stratified by sex,
category, and discipline. Cyclists underwent a 2-day protocol to assess maximal
aerobic power via a graded exercise test, time-to-exhaustion at maximal aerobic
power, and 1RM via a velocity-based parallel back squat test. Spearman
correlations, mixed models, generalized additive models, structural equation
modeling, and cluster analysis examined strength–performance relationships,
adjusted for covariates. 1RM strongly predicted maximal aerobic power
(r=0.73, β=0.86, p<0.001; 2.47 W increase per kg) and
relative 1RM predicted maximal aerobic power relative to body mass nonlinearly
(r=0.58, β=0.84, p<0.001). Time-to-exhaustion showed
no significant strength association (p>0.05). Women exhibited lower
maximal aerobic power (−71.67 W, p<0.001), mountain bike cyclists
showed longer time-to-exhaustion (+0.61 standard deviation, p=0.049), and
elite cyclists had higher maximal aerobic power (+21.51 W, p=0.030),
reflecting physiological and discipline-specific differences. Clusters
highlighted strength-power distinctions. These findings demonstrate that maximal
strength is associated with maximal aerobic power but not time-to-exhaustion,
with associations varying according to sex, discipline, and category.
Keywords
time-to-exhaustion - muscle strength - cycling - endurance - aerobic power - national
team
