Cyclists feel reluctance to do maximal strength training (ST) because they fear for negative effects on cycling endurance performance. However, recent studies showed positive effects of maximal ST on endurance cycling performance. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare the effects of a maximal and sub maximal ST program on cycling performance in elite cyclists. METHODS: Seventeen highly trained cyclists (20.0±1.6 years old) were divided in two training groups. that performed a maximal or sub maximal ST program, twice a week for two blocks of four weeks concurrent to cycling endurance training. Changes in average power at 80% and 90% of the maximal heart rate (P80% and P90%) and total work (TW) and critical power (CP) were assessed in two consecutive tests. Between-group effects were determined with inferences based on a meaningful difference of 6% and 3% for P80% and P90% respectively and a smallest worthwhile change of 1% for time trial performance and standardized changes for road races for TW and CP. A Students T-test was used to establish within-group differences. RESULTS: There were "likely positive" between-group differences for mean changes in the P90% (6.3%; 90% confidence limits, ±6.3) in favour of the sub maximal training group, with only a significant increase in P90% for the sub maximal group (p=0.011). Between-group differences for mean changes in P80%, W and CP were "unclear". T-tests revealed significant improvements in TW (p=0.019 and 0.030) and CP (p=0.022 and p=0.028) for the sub maximal and maximal group respectively from pre- to post-test. DISCUSSION: The findings show that sub maximal ST, when performed concurrent to cycling endurance training, results in a greater improvement in sub maximal cycling performance than maximal ST. Earlier studies showed that replacing a portion of endurance training with sub maximal ST compared to only endurance training could maintain high intensity cycling performance (Bastiaans et al., 2001), while recent studies suggest that adding heavy-resistance ST improves endurance cycling performance (Aagaard et al., 2011; Rønnestad et al., 2010). Although concurrent strength and endurance training have a negative effect on each other (Rønnestad et al., 2011), the combination increases cycling performance more than one type of training alone. Our study suggests that cycling endurance training can best be combined with sub maximal ST instead of maximal ST to increase cycling performance.
© Copyright 2012 17th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Bruges, 4. -7. July 2012. Veröffentlicht von Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Alle Rechte vorbehalten. / Übersetzt mit https://www.DeepL.com/Translator