Purpose To compare physiological responses between a self-paced 4-min double-poling (DP) time-trial (TT DP) versus a 4-min diagonal-stride (DS) time-trial (TT DS). The relative importance of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), anaerobic capacity, and gross efficiency (GE) for projection of 4-min TT DP and TT DS roller-skiing performances were also examined. Methods Sixteen highly trained male cross-country skiers performed, in each sub-technique on separate occasions, an 8 × 4-min incremental submaximal protocol, to assess individual metabolic rate (MR) versus power output (PO) relationships, followed by a 10-min passive break and then the TT DP or TT DS , with a randomized order between sub-techniques. Results In comparison to TT DS , the TT DP resulted in 10 ± 7% lower total MR, 5 ± 4% lower aerobic MR, 30 ± 37% lower anaerobic MR, and 4.7 ± 1.2 percentage points lower GE, which resulted in a 32 ± 4% lower PO (all P < 0.01). The VO2peak and anaerobic capacity were 4 ± 4% and 30 ± 37% lower, respectively, in DP than DS (both P < 0.01). The PO for the two time-trial (TT) performances were not significantly correlated (R2 = 0.044). Similar parabolic pacing strategies were used during both TTs. Multivariate data analysis projected TT performance using VO2peak, anaerobic capacity, and GE (TT DP, R2 = 0.974; TT DS , R2 = 0.848). The variable influence on projection values for VO2peak, anaerobic capacity, and GE were for TTDP, 1.12 ± 0.60, 1.01 ± 0.72, and 0.83 ± 0.38, respectively, and TTDS, 1.22 ± 0.35, 0.93 ± 0.44, and 0.75 ± 0.19, respectively. Conclusions The results show that a cross-country skier`s "metabolic profile" and performance capability are highly sub-technique specific and that 4-min TT performance is differentiated by physiological factors, such as VO2peak , anaerobic capacity, and GE.
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