Abstract
Mobile power meters provide a valid means of measuring cyclists’ power output in the field. These field
measurements can be performed with very good accuracy and reliability making the power meter a
useful tool for monitoring and evaluating training and race demands. This review presents power meter
data from a Grand Tour cyclist’s training and racing and explores the inherent complications created by
its stochastic nature. Simple summary methods cannot reflect a session’s variable distribution of power
output or indicate its likely metabolic stress. Binning power output data, into training zones for
example, provides information on the detail but not the length of efforts within a session. An alternative
approach is to track changes in cyclists’ modelled training and racing performances. Both critical power
and record power profiles have been used for monitoring training-induced changes in this manner. Due
to the inadequacy of current methods, the review highlights the need for new methods to be
established which quantify the effects of training loads and models their implications for performance.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1426-1434 |
Journal | Journal of Sports Sciences |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 14 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 12 Aug 2016 |
Keywords
- Modelling
- endurance
- training
- cycling
- performance
- power output