Physical Demands and Performance Indicators in Male Professional Cyclists During a Grand Tour: WorldTour Versus ProTeam Category

• DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2021-0082
• Publication Date: 2021-08-03T07:50:06Z
• Authors: Xabier Muriel; Pedro L. Valenzuela; Manuel Mateo-March; Jesús G. Pallarés; Alejandro Lucia; David Barranco-Gil
• Keywords: Cycling; Interquartile range; Perceived exertion

To compare the physical demands and performance indicators of male professional cyclists 2 different categories (Union Cycliste Internationale WorldTour [WT] ProTeam [PT]) during a cycling grand tour.A WT team (n = 8, 31.4 [5.4] y) PT 7, 26.9 [3.3] that completed "La Vuelta 2020" volunteered to participate. Participants' power output (PO) was registered, measures demand physiological (kilojoules spent, training stress score, time spent at PO bands/zones, mean maximal [MMP] for exertion durations) were computed.WT achieved higher final individual position than (31 [interquartile range 33] vs 71 [59], P .004). showed kilojoule values their peers more high-intensity (>5.25 W·kg-1) zones (91%-120% individualized functional threshold power) (Ps < .05). Although no differences found MMP in overall analysis (P > .05), subanalyses revealed between-groups gap increased through race, with reaching ≥5-minute efforts second third weeks .05).Despite multifactorial nature performance, spend high intensities show kilojoules referents tour. highest attained whole race might not differentiate between cyclists, former achieve as progresses.