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

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

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
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision August 13, 2006

Publication Date:
11 May 2007 (online)

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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·O2max = 68.5 ± 3.6 ml · kg-1 · min-1; peak power (Ppeak) = 469 ± 33 W) participated in this study. Each subject performed a V·O2max 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 Ttot (30.03 ± 1.24, 30.12 ± 1.21, and 30.14 ± 1.21 min) and mean absolute power (Pmean) (326 ± 35, 323 ± 35, 322 ± 34 Watts) were not significantly different across TT1 - TT3. Pmean 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 Pmean (TT1 - TT2 = 2.1 %, CI = 1.6 % to 3.1 %; TT2 - TT3 = 1.9 %, CI = 1.4 % to 2.8 %). Ppeak and Pmean were both correlated to Ttot in TT1 with Pmean accounting for most of the variance in Ttot (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

3055 Wesbrook Mall

V6K 3Z9 Vancouver

Canada

Phone: + 60 48 22 56 17

Fax: + 60 48 22 90 58

Email: sporer@interchange.ubc.ca

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