Tornaghi M¹, Bosio A¹, Guardascione C² ,Pecci C¹, Connolly D¹, Rampinini E^1,3

1, HPL, MAPEI Sport (Castellanza, Italy);2, Team Lampre ISD (Milan, Italy);3,  Faculty of Exercise and Sports Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano (Milan, Italy)

Maximum oxygen uptake (VO_2max) is a good indicator of the aerobic systems efficiency and it has been found to be related to Haemoglobin mass (Hb_mass) (Heinicke et al., 2001). VO2max may increase after a period of intense training while Hb_mass appears to remain stable during a season in endurance athletes (Prommer et al., 2008). No study has verified seasonal changes in both VO_2max and Hb_mass in competitive cyclists. The aim of this study was to verify seasonal changes of VO2max and Hb_mass in professional (PRO) and Under 23 (U23) cyclists. Ten male PRO cyclists (age 28±4 yrs, heights 176±5 cm and body mass 66.0±5.0 kg) performed an incremental test to establish VO2max and peak power output (PPO), and Hb_mass was measured using an optimised CO re-breathing method (Schmdit and Prommer, 2005). Each test was performed three times during the season (November-December, pre-preseason period START; January-February, before the competitive season, PRE and March-August, during the competitive season, MID). In addition, 12 male U23 cyclists (age 20±1, heights 180±7 and body mass 73.2±10.1 kg) underwent the same evaluations twice a year (January, PRE1 and PRE2 and May, MID1 and MID2) for 2 consecutive seasons. In PRO cyclists absolute and relative VO_2max and PPO significantly increased (all p<0.023) during the season (VO_2max: 70.0±4.5, 73.7±3.4 and 73.1±4.1 ml/kg/min at START, PRE and MID, respectively and PPO: 433±52, 456±28 and 460±24 W at START, PRE and MID, respectively). Hb_mass remained stable (1034±133, 1026±95 and 1025±99 g at START, PRE and MID, respectively, p=0.805). U23 cyclists absolute and relative VO_2max and PPO significantly increased (all p<0.022) during the two years (VO_2max: 65.7±4.7, 67.3±4.9, 69.4±4.5 and 71.1±5.1 ml/kg/min at PRE1, MID1, PRE2 and MID2, respectively and PPO: 436±37, 456±39, 453±39 and 463±33 W at PRE1, MID1, PRE2 and MID2, respectively). Hb_mass remained stable (1007±169, 996±146, 1019±163 and 1003±159 g for PRE1, MID1, PRE2 and MID2, respectively, p=0.225). This study confirmed that a preparation period increases aerobic efficiency, while demonstrating that Hb_mass is stable in both PRO and U23 cyclists. Other physiological factors like cardiac output or plasma volume expansion must account for the VO_2max increases observed. Given that Hb_mass appears to be stable across competitive seasons, the CO re-breathing method may be a useful tool to detect the use of blood doping.

12th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS).

Bruges, Belgium, July 4-7, 2012

Book of Abstract Bruges, 17-1076