Abstract : The aim of this study was to analyze the pedalling rate (PR) adopted by professional cyclists in di
more
Abstract : The aim of this study was to analyze the pedalling rate (PR) adopted by professional cyclists in different mountain passes. PR, heart rate (HR), velocity and power to overcome gravity were monitored during special (HM), 1st (M1), 2nd (M2) and 3rd (M3) category mountain passes. HM and M1 within high-mountain stages were classified into mountain passes before the final mountain pass of the stage (M-BF) and mountain passes placed in the final of the stage (M-F). PR was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in M3 (82 ± 1 rpm) than in M2 (75 ± 3 rpm), M1 (75 ± 2 rpm) and HM (73 ± 1 rpm). Both velocity and power output decreased in the following order: M3, M2, M1 and HM. Also, greater values (P < 0.05) were observed in M-BF (24.1 ± 0.8 km•h-1 and 308.5 ± 10.4 W) than in M-F (17.6 ± 0.9 km•h-1 and 270.1 ± 9.9 W). In addition, PR was higher (P < 0.05) in M-BF (79 ± 2 rpm) than in M-F (73 ± 1 rpm). In conclusion, PR was modified according to the characteristics and the race strategies adopted by the cyclists, thus the cyclists chose higher PR to improve their performance.- Slides
less