The aim of this master thesis is to examine the external and internal training load of cyclists during the Tour of Slovenia. The thesis shows how the external training load varies within a single stage and over several consecutive days of the race. Distinguishing between flat and mountain stages, the research also observes how the cyclist’s external training load is affected by the stage type.
Cycling is considered to be one of the most physically demanding sports, particularly in stage races. Even though these have been thoroughly analyzed, researchers typically focus on longer stage races of eight or even twenty-one days. This study is focused on the shorter, five-day, Tour of Slovenia, which has not yet been the subject of much research. Given the shorter duration of the race, its comparison with longer races makes it an interesting study subject.
Seven cyclists were included in the study, three of them, however, withdrew during the third stage. Therefore, the analysis was only carried out on the data of the four cyclists who completed all five stages. Five variables were analyzed for each cyclist, namely average absolute power, average relative power, average heart rate and the TSS and TRIMP load factors. The analysis shows no statistically significant differences between different parts of the stage. Moreover, it indicates the cyclists’ external training load was similar in both parts of the stage. The same conclusion applies to the different parts of the race, as the study indicates no statistically significant differences between the external training load in the first and second part. The differences were unobserved even in the absolute values, which were analyzed in more detail due to the small sample size. The most significant differences were observed between different stage types, yet, they were not statistically significant either. However, the TRIMP value on mountain stages was 21% higher than on flat stages, which does indicate a difference in the external and internal training load of the cyclist on each stage.
The aim of this master thesis is to examine the external and internal training load of cyclists during the Tour of Slovenia. The thesis shows how the external training load varies within a single stage and over several consecutive days of the race. Distinguishing between flat and mountain stages, the research also observes how the cyclist’s external training load is affected by the stage type.
Cycling is considered to be one of the most physically demanding sports, particularly in stage races. Even though these have been thoroughly analyzed, researchers typically focus on longer stage races of eight or even twenty-one days. This study is focused on the shorter, five-day, Tour of Slovenia, which has not yet been the subject of much research. Given the shorter duration of the race, its comparison with longer races makes it an interesting study subject.
Seven cyclists were included in the study, three of them, however, withdrew during the third stage. Therefore, the analysis was only carried out on the data of the four cyclists who completed all five stages. Five variables were analyzed for each cyclist, namely average absolute power, average relative power, average heart rate and the TSS and TRIMP load factors. The analysis shows no statistically significant differences between different parts of the stage. Moreover, it indicates the cyclists’ external training load was similar in both parts of the stage. The same conclusion applies to the different parts of the race, as the study indicates no statistically significant differences between the external training load in the first and second part. The differences were unobserved even in the absolute values, which were analyzed in more detail due to the small sample size. The most significant differences were observed between different stage types, yet, they were not statistically significant either. However, the TRIMP value on mountain stages was 21% higher than on flat stages, which does indicate a difference in the external and internal training load of the cyclist on each stage.
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