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Br J Sports Med 2004;38:636-640 doi:10.1136/bjsm.2003.008490
  • Original article

Which laboratory variable is related with time trial performance time in the Tour de France?

  1. A Lucia1,
  2. J Hoyos2,
  3. M Pérez1,
  4. A Santalla3,
  5. C P Earnest4,
  6. J L Chicharro5
  1. 1Universidad Europea de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  2. 2Asociación Deportiva Banesto, Madrid, Spain
  3. 3Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio, Madrid, Spain
  4. 4The Cooper Institute Center for Integrated Health Research, Dallas, TX, USA
  5. 5Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  1. Correspondence to:
 Alajandro Lucia
 Universidad Europea de Madrid (Polideportivo), 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain; alejandro.lucia{at}mrfs.cisa.uem.es
  • Accepted 6 October 2003

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between several physiological variables that can be easily obtained during cycle ergometer gradual testing (for example, peak power output (Wpeak), Vo2max, or ventilatory threshold (VT)) and actual (>50 km) time trials (TT) time performance during the Tour de France.

Methods: We collected data in professional cyclists from the first TT of the 1998 Tour de France (TT1, 58 km distance; n = 6 cyclists) and the first (TT2, 56.5 km; n = 5) and second TT of the 1999 Tour de France (TT3, 57 km; n = 5).

Results: A negative relationship was found between power output (W) at VT (VTWatt) and TT final time (s) in TT1 (r = −0.864; p = 0.026; standard error of estimate (SEE) of 73 s; and 95% confidence limits (95% CL) −0.98; −0.18), TT2 (r = −0.77; p = 0.27; SEE of 139 s; and 95% CL −0.98; 0.35), and TT3 (r = −0.923; p = 0.025; SEE of 94 s; and 95% CL −1.00; −0.22).

Conclusions: Actual performance in long TT during the Tour de France (>50 km distance, performed after at least 1–2 weeks of continuous competition), in which some cumulative fatigue inevitably occurs, is related, at least in part, to the power output that elicits the VT. No other routine physiological variable (for example, Vo2max or Wpeak) is related to performance in this type of event.

Footnotes

  • Conflict of interest: none declared.

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