Effect of load specificity on the day before competition in Mountain-Bike Masters cyclists

A pilot study

  • David Rodríguez Redondo Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Psicología y Deporte. Universidad de Huelva. Avd. De las Fuerzas Armadas S/N, 2100. Huelva, España
  • Francisco Barrera Domínguez Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Psicología y Deporte. Universidad de Huelva. Avd. De las Fuerzas Armadas S/N, 2100. Huelva, España
  • Juan Manuel Romero Lorencio Centro Andaluz de Medicina del Deporte. Avd. Manuel Siurot S/N 21005. Huelva, España
  • Isabel Sánchez Nosea Centro Andaluz de Medicina del Deporte. Avd. Manuel Siurot S/N 21005. Huelva, España
  • Rodolfo Ortiz Domínguez Centro Andaluz de Medicina del Deporte. Avd. Manuel Siurot S/N 21005. Huelva, España
  • Héctor Vázquez Lorente Departamento de Fisiología. Universidad de Granada. Campus de la Cartuja S/N. Granada, España
  • Jorge Molina Lopez Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Psicología y Deporte. Universidad de Huelva. Avd. De las Fuerzas Armadas S/N, 2100. Huelva, España
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33155/j.ramd.2023.06.001
Keywords: ciclismo, competición, activación, eficiencia, bicicleta de montaña Cycling;, Competition, Efficiency, Mountain-bike Ciclismo, Competição, Eficiência, Mountain-bike

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the specificity of the activation stimulus on the pre-race day on sporting performance in MTB Masters cyclists.

Methods: The present study is a prospective, longitudinal, quasi-experimental design carried out with 6 male participants (age, 44.0±6.63 years; weight, 70.7±8.32 kg; VO2 max, 60.8±9.92 ml/kg/min) who performed 3 different types of activations (0, control situation; 1, a specific on-bike situation; 2, non-specific off-bike situation performed by strength exercise with individualised loads based on the force-velocity profile). Cyclists' performance was assessed by a 5-minute all-out test at maximum intensity.

Results: The main results showed significant differences for mean cadence in situation 0 vs 2 (p=0.018, d=1.740) and mean heart rate in 0 vs 1 (p=0.002, d=3.347). In addition, efficiency (power/pulse) was found to be statistically significant between situations 0 vs 1 (p=0.05) and trending towards significance at 1 vs 2 (p=0.082). Specifically, a greater increase in HR and power output was observed in the first 120s of the test in control vs. intervened situations (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The three proposed activation situations obtained similar overall performance in all parameters measured, although the specific activation proposal appears to be beneficial for the improvement of performance in competition in MTB masters cyclists. Further research is required.

Published
2023-08-22
Issue
Vol. 16 No. 1-2 (2023): August 2023
Section
Originals
Page/s
21-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.33155/j.ramd.2023.06.001