There are many factors that determine success in cycling. On the forefront we have stamina, followed by strength, especially when accelerating, riding uphill the steep slope, for race endings. To measure this ability in cyclists we use tests for evaluating anaerobic capability. We used 30-second Wingate test. We also measured each cyclist’s height and body composition with bioimpedance analysis.
The main purpose of this master thesis was comparison of anaerobic capacity between downhill, enduro, cross-country and road cyclists. We wanted to compare differences in body characteristics and anaerobic capacity between each cycling discipline, find correlation of these with competitive performance and criteria for above average cyclist for each cycling discipline.
There were 39 participants in this study (9 enduro mountain bikers, 10 downhill mountain bikers, 9 cross-country mountain bikers and 11 road cyclists), all of them were older than 18 years old and compete under KZS (Slovenian Cycling Federation). For statistical analysis we used IBM SPSS Statistics program. To determine the differences in mean values we used One-way ANOVA for independent samples, for correlations between competitive performance and individual variables we used Pearson’s correlation between variable pairs. For each statistical analysis we used risk level of α=5 %.
When comparing body weight statistically significant differences have been found between disciplines downhill and cross-country (75,6 kg and 67,6 kg). Nearly statistically significant was also comparison between disciplines enduro and cross-country (74,9 kg and 67,6 kg).
Statistically significant was a difference in % of body fat between enduro, cross-country and road racers (14,4%, 10% and 8,5 %). In previously mentioned disciplines there was also difference in % of musculature (48,8%, 51,2% and 52,3%). Statistically significant differences were noticed when comparing BMI, but Post Hoc tests didn’t find the differences between groups. The biggest difference was noticed between downhill or enduro cyclists and cross-country cyclists (23,3 for downhill and enduro and 21,1 for cross-country cyclists).
Wingate's test results didn’t show any statistically significant differences between cycling disciplines. The biggest difference was noted in fatigue index, which was lower in road cyclists than in cyclists of other disciplines (55,3% vs. >60% in other disciplines). There weren’t any statistically significant differences between disciplines when comparing absolute and relative anaerobic capacity.
We checked correlation between competitive performance and measured body characteristics and capabilities. Statistically significant correlation between competitive performance and body weight, musculature (kg) and minimal power was proved in enduro discipline. More successful were heavier riders, those who had more musculature and higher minimal power. There were no statistically significant correlations with competitive performance in downhill. With cross-country was statistically significant correlation between competitive performance and height, relative power drop and relative power drop per second. On the other hand, with road cyclists we discovered statistically significant correlation between competitive performance and age and minimal power. More successful were older cyclists with greater minimal power.
We designed criteria for above average cycling racers for every discipline separately, wherewith comparison between the best racers and each cyclist who finished Wingate test is possible.
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