The Physiological Responses to Running After Cycling in Elite Junior and Senior Triathletes

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the physiological responses in cycling and the energy cost (EC) of running after cycling in elite junior (J_male and J_female) and senior (S_male and S_female) triathletes and to determine the relationship between laboratory physiological parameters and performance in an elite “standard” distance triathlon. Thirty-one elite triathletes competing at World Championship level (age: 23.4 ± 4.8 y; height: 172.6 ± 6.8 cm; body mass: 64.4 ± 7.2 kg; V·O₂max = 67.8 ± 8.3 ml × kg^-1 × min^-1) comprising J_male (n = 7), J_female (n = 6), S_male (n = 9) and S_female (n = 9) athletes performed a laboratory trial that consisted of submaximal treadmill running (to determine EC), maximal then submaximal cycle ergometry (to determine the peak power output [PPO], V·O₂max, the ventilation threshold [VT] and cycling economy) followed by an additional submaximal running bout. Swimming, cycling, running and overall race performance (min) over a standard event was also measured in the field. S_male had a faster cycle, run and overall triathlon times than J_male. S_female demonstrated a faster cycle and overall triathlon time than J_female. The V·O₂max (74.7 ± 5.7 vs. 74.3 ± 4.4 and 60.1 ± 1.8 vs. 61.0 ± 5.0 ml × kg^-1 × min^-1) and cycling economy (72.5 ± 4.5 vs. 73.8 ± 4.3 and 75.6 ± 4.5 vs. 79.8 ± 9.8 W × l^-1 × min^-1) were similar between the junior and senior, in both male and female triathletes. However, S_female possessed a significantly higher PPO than J_female. S_male had a higher VT (%V·O₂max) than J_male whereas the VT was similar in J_female and S_female. There were no significant differences in EC change from the first to the second running bout between J_male and S_male, whereas, in contrast, J_female exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) higher difference in EC than S_female. When all subjects were pooled, the overall triathlon time (min) was significantly correlated to V·O₂max (r = -0.80; p < 0.001) and PPO (W) (r = -0.85; p < 0.001) in cycle ergometry. In conclusion, elite senior triathletes can be distinguished from their younger (junior) counterparts, mainly by a higher PPO in cycling and a lower increase in the whole body energy cost of running after cycling in female and by a higher ventilatory threshold in male triathletes.

Energy cost - maximal oxygen consumption - peak power output - triathlon - performance

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