Menaspà P¹, Sassi A¹, Impellizzeri FM^2,3

1, Mapei Sport, Castellanza, Italy;2, Department of Research and Development, Schulthess Klinik, Zurich, SWITZERLAND;3, Research Centre for Bioengineering and Motor Sciences, Rovereto, ITALY

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the discriminant ability of aerobic fitness measures among junior cyclists of different competitive levels and to examine whether these variables were able to predict the cyclists who reached the professional level. METHODS: A total of 309 young cyclists (mean ± SD, age = 17.5 ± 0.5 yr, height = 178 ± 6 cm, weight = 66 ± 7 kg) performed an incremental maximal test to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) and respiratory compensation point. To examine the discriminant and predictive ability of these parameters, the cyclists were classified according to their competitive level and specialty: 1) national team (NAT) and nonnational team (non-NAT); 2) nonprofessionals (NP), and professional flat specialists and professional climbers; and 3) nonprofessionals (NP), professional continental, and ProTour. A logistic regression was used to test the accuracy of models generated using as predictors the laboratory measures of aerobic fitness and anthropometric data. RESULTS: The mean absolute and relative VO_2peak were 4.7 ± 0.6 L·min^-1 and 71 ± 7 mL·kg^-1·min^-1, respectively. NAT displayed higher VO₂ values than non-NAT. Professional flat specialists showed higher absolute VO₂ values than NP. Professional climbers showed higher relative VO₂ values than NP. ProTour showed higher aerobic fitness measures than NP. Using the receiver operating characteristic curve, body mass, absolute VO_2peak, and VO₂ at respiratory compensation point were found to discriminate NAT from non-NAT. Although some of these variables influenced the odds of becoming professionals (odds ratios from 1.10 to 2.86), no models were able to correctly identify the cyclists who became professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional physiological measures of aerobic fitness are useful to identify junior cyclists who can excel in their category. However, these variables cannot be used for talent identification, if “talent” is interpreted as a young cyclist who will succeed in becoming a professional.

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010 Apr;42(4):805-12.

PMID: 19952851   DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181ba99bc