Abstract
Purpose
The curvature constant (W′) and asymptote (critical power; CP) of the power–duration relationship are important parameters for explaining cycling performance. Short-duration endurance cycling events rely more heavily on the W′; however, the full mechanistic underpinning of this parameter is yet to be determined. Evidence suggests both muscle volume and muscle strength may contribute to the magnitude of W′. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between power–duration parameters (CP and W′) and (1) anthropometric and (2) mechanical properties of thigh muscles in a sample of elite cyclists.
Methods
Eleven elite male cyclists had gross thigh volume (TVOL), quadriceps muscle volume (QVOL), vastus lateralis (VL) muscle pennation angle (PA) and VL muscle thickness (MT) measured. Additionally, maximum torque production of the knee extensors (FMAX) was assessed. The relationship between these anthropometric and mechanical measures and both the CP and W′ were determined.
Results
W′ showed a very strong positive and significant relationship with FMAX (r = 0.87, p < 0.001) and a large positive and significant relationship with TVOL (r = 0.60, p = 0.05). No other anthropometric characteristics were related to the W′. The CP was not associated with any mechanical or anthropometric parameter.
Conclusion
In addition to muscle size, the maximal evocable force of a muscle (group) appears to be linked to the magnitude of the W′ in elite cyclists.
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Abbreviations
- 1RM:
-
One repetition maximum
- CP:
-
Critical power
- CSA:
-
Cross-sectional area
- F MAX :
-
Normalised maximum torque production
- MRI:
-
Magentic resonance imaging
- MT:
-
Muscle thickness
- MVC:
-
Maximum voluntary contraction
- PA:
-
Pennation angle
- PCr:
-
Phosphocreatine
- 31P-MR:
-
Phosphorus magnetic resonance
- 31Pi :
-
Inorganic phosphate
- Q VOL :
-
Quadriceps muscle volume
- TT:
-
Time trial
- T VOL :
-
Gross thigh volume
- UCI:
-
Union Cycliste Internationale
- VL:
-
Vastus lateralis
- W′:
-
Curvature constant
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the coaches who helped facilitate the riders taking part in this study and the riders themselves who participated. In addition, the authors would also like to thank Karen Voigt, Rebecca Postlethwaite, Nicos Haralabidis, Tejal Sarika Patel and Tom Maden-Wilkinson for their help in carrying out the MR scans and analysis. Finally, the authors would like to thank the reviewers of this manuscript for their constructive critique of this work.
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MK conceived and designed research. MK conducted experiment. MK, LPS and CM analysed data. CM drafted the manuscript. LPS, CM and MK edited the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
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Communicated by Anni Vanhatalo.
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Kordi, M., Menzies, C. & Parker Simpson, L. Relationship between power–duration parameters and mechanical and anthropometric properties of the thigh in elite cyclists. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 637–645 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3807-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3807-1