Effect of Ramp Slope on Ventilation Thresholds and V˙O₂peak in Male Cyclists

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of 10 W · min^-1 (Slow ramp, SR), 30 W · min^-1 (Medium ramp, MR) and 50 W · min^-1 (Fast ramp, FR) exercise protocols on assessments of the first (VT1) and second (VT2) ventilation thresholds and peak oxygen uptake (V˙O₂peak) in 12 highly-trained male cyclists (mean ± SD age = 26 ± 6 yr). Expired gas sampled from a mixing chamber was analyzed on-line and VT1 and VT2 were defined as two break-points in 20-s-average plots of pulmonary ventilation (V˙_E), ventilatory equivalents for O₂ (V˙_E/V˙O₂) and CO₂ (V˙_E/V˙CO₂), and fractions of expired O₂ (F_EO₂) and CO₂ (F_ECO₂). Arterialized-venous blood samples were analyzed for blood-gas and acid-base status. V˙O₂peak was significantly lower (p < 0.05) for SR (4.65 ± 0.53 l · min^-1) compared to MR (4.89 ± 0.56 l · min^-1) and FR (4.88 ± 0.57 l · min^-1) protocols. CO₂ output and blood PCO₂ were lower (p < 0.05), and V˙_E/V˙CO₂ was higher (p < 0.05), above VT1 for SR compared to MR and FR protocols. No significant differences were observed among the protocols for V˙O₂, % V˙O₂peak, V˙_E, plasma lactate ([La^-]) and blood hydrogen ion concentration ([H⁺]), and heart rate (HR) values at VT1 or VT2. The work rate (WR) measured at VT1, VT2 and V˙O₂peak increased (p < 0.05) with steeper ramp slopes. It was concluded that, in highly-trained cyclists, assessments of VT1 and VT2 are independent of ramp rate (10, 30, 50 W · min^-1) when expressed as V˙O₂, % V˙O₂peak, V˙_E, plasma [La^-], blood [H⁺] and HR values, whereas V˙O₂peak is lower during 10 W · min^-1 compared to 30 and 50 W · min^-1 ramp protocols. In addition, the WR measured at VT1, VT2 and V˙O₂peak varies with the ramp slope and should be utilized cautiously when prescribing training or evaluating performance.

Key words

Endurance athletes · blood-gas and acid-base status · ramp exercise protocol · respiratory compensation threshold

References

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