Reliability of power output, maximal rate of capillary blood lactate accumulation, and phosphagen contribution time following 15‐s sprint cycling in amateur cyclists
B. Meixner, Valentin Nußer, Karsten Koehler, Mattice Sablain, Jan Boone, Billy Sperlich
Abstract
Abstract Based on Mader's mathematical model, the rate of capillary blood lactate concentration (νLa max ) following intense exercise is thought to reflect the maximal glycolytic rate. We aimed to investigate the reliability of important variables of Mader's model (i.e. power output, lactate accumulation, predominant phosphagen contribution time frames (t P Cr )) and resulting νLa max values derived during and after a 15‐s cycling sprint. Fifty cyclists performed a 15‐s all‐out sprint test on a Cyclus2 ergometer three times. The first sprint test was considered a familiarization trial. Capillary blood was sampled before and every minute (for 8 min) after the sprint to determine νLa max . Test–retest analysis between T2 and T3 revealed excellent reliability for power output (P mean and P peak ; ICC = 0.99, 0.99), ∆La and νLa max with t PCr of 3.5 s (ICC = 0.91, 0.91). νLa max calculated with t PCr = t P peak (ICC = 0.87) and t P Cr = t Ppeak–3.5% (ICC = 0.79) revealed good reliability. t Ppeak and t Ppeak–3.5% revealed only poor and moderate reliability (ICC = 0.41, 0.52). Power output and ∆La are reliable parameters in the context of this test. Depending on t PCr , reliability of νLa max varies considerably with t P Cr of 3.5 s showing excellent reliability. We recommend standardization of this type of testing especially t P Cr .