Key result
During the cycle phase of an Olympic triathlon, elite triathletes experienced a progressive reduction in speed, power output, and heart rate, with 17% of time spent above maximal aerobic power.
Observational (n=10)
The Olympic distance triathlon requires higher aerobic and anaerobic involvement than constant-workload cycling, suggesting direct power output monitoring is more suitable than heart rate for quantifying race intensity.
Power monitoring may better quantify Olympic triathlon demands than heart rate in elites; leaves open prospective validation before broader adoption.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the power output (PO) during the cycle phase of the Beijing World Cup test event of the Olympic triathlon in China 2008. METHODS: Ten elite triathletes (5 females, 5 males) performed two laboratory tests: an incremental cycling test during which PO, HR at ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2), and maximal aerobic power (MAP) were assessed, and a brief all-out test to determine maximal anaerobic power output (MAnP). During the cycle part of competition, PO and HR were measured directly with portable device. The amount of time spent below PO at VT1 (zone 1), between PO at VT1 and VT2 (zone 2), between PO at VT2 and MAP (zone 3) and above MAP (zone 4) was analyzed. RESULTS: A significant decrease in PO, speed, and HR values was observed during the race. The distribution of time was 51 +/- 9% for zone 1, 17 +/- 6% for zone 2, 15 +/- 3% for zone 3, and 17 +/- 6% was performed at workloads higher than MAP (zone 4). From HR values, the triathletes spent 27 +/- 12% in zone 1, 26 +/- 8% in zone 2, and 48 +/- 14% above VT2. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates a progressive reduction in speed, PO, and HR, coupled with an increase in variability during the event. The Olympic distance triathlon requires a higher aerobic and anaerobic involvement than constant-workload cycling exercises classically analyzed in laboratory settings (i.e., time trial) or Ironman triathlons. Furthermore, monitoring direct PO could be more suitable to quantify the intensity of a race with pacing strategies than classic HR measurements.
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Bernard et al. (2009) conducted an observational in Elite triathletes (n=10). Olympic distance triathlon cycle phase was evaluated on Power output (PO), speed, and HR values during the race. During the cycle phase of an Olympic triathlon, elite triathletes experienced a progressive reduction in speed, power output, and heart rate, with 17% of time spent above maximal aerobic power.
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