Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of flat and uphill
cycling on critical power and the work available above critical power. Thirteen
well-trained endurance athletes performed three prediction trials of 10-, 4- and
1-min in both flat (0.6%) and uphill (9.8%) cycling conditions
on two separate days. Critical power and the work available above critical power
were estimated using various mathematical models. The best individual fit was
used for further statistical analyses. Paired t-tests and Bland-Altman plots
with 95% limits of agreement were applied to compare power output and
parameter estimates between cycling conditions. Power output during the 10- and
4-min prediction trial and power output at critical power were not significantly
affected by test conditions (all at p>0.05), but the limits of agreement
between flat and uphill cycling power output and critical power estimates are
too large to consider both conditions as equivalent. However, power output
during the 1-min prediction trial and the work available above critical power
were significantly higher during uphill compared to flat cycling
(p<0.05). The results of this investigation indicate that gradient
affects cycling time-trial performance, power output at critical power, and the
amount of work available above critical power.
Key words
critical power - field test - terrain slope - time trial - anaerobic work capacity - endurance
