Single-Session Field-Based Evaluation of Durability in Professional Male Cyclists via 5-Minute Time Trials
Keywords:
durability, professional cycling, field-based testing, 5-min time trialAbstract
This study investigated endurance durability in professional male cyclists using a single-session, field-based 5-minute time trial (5min-TT) protocol under fresh and fatigued conditions. Twenty elite cyclists from a UCI ProTeam participated during a pre-season training camp. The experimental session simulated race-specific demands, combining prolonged moderate-intensity cycling with repeated high-intensity efforts on a standardized uphill road segment. Following an accumulated workload of approximately 45–50 kJ·kg⁻¹, cyclists exhibited significant declines in absolute and relative power output, torque, and PO:HR during the fatigued 5min-TT compared with the fresh condition. In contrast, heart rate and cadence remained largely unchanged. These results indicate that performance reductions were primarily driven by decreased torque rather than alterations in cadence or cardiovascular response, highlighting the role of neuromuscular mechanisms in fatigue resistance. The dissociation between power output and heart rate suggests that PO:HR decoupling may serve as a practical marker of endurance durability during high-intensity efforts. Overall, the findings demonstrate that a single-session, field-based 5min-TT is a feasible and effective method for assessing durability in professional cyclists.
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