Addition of strength training to off-road cyclists training. A pilot study

Authors

  • Javier Botella Ruiz Centro de Investigación del Deporte, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
  • Jose Manuel Sarabia Centro de Investigación del Deporte, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
  • Silvia Guillén Centro de Investigación del Deporte, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
  • Raúl López-Grueso Centro de Investigación del Deporte, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
  • Keijo Häkkinen Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
  • Rafael Sabido Centro de Investigación del Deporte, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain

Keywords:

concurrent training, endurance, strength, cycling, maximal strength

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of adding a traditional strength training approach (endurance-strength = ES) during the pre-season versus a non-traditional approach where strength training is further maintained throughout the season (maximal-strength = MS), on aerobic and anaerobic parameters of off-road cyclists. Eleven off-road cyclists were divided into two groups. The ES group (n=6) performed during the first 8 weeks endurance-strength training, while the MS group (n=5) performed maximal-strength training, both together with their usual endurance training. During the following 8 weeks, only MS group maintained 1 session of strength training per week. 1RM, VO2max, Maximal aerobic power  (Wmax), Power at 4-mmol·L-1 (LT4.0), Peak Power (PP), Mean Power (MP), Power best 5s (PB5), Power last 5s (PL5) and Fatigue Index (FI) were assessed. Results showed that there were significant (P < 0.05) increases for MS group in PP (+ 4.8%) from PRE to MID, in 1RM (+ 15.8%) from PRE to POST, while in the ES group there was a decrease in 1RM (- 16.1%), PL5 (-4.3%) with an increase in FI (+ 9.5) from MID to POST. Effect size calculations showed small and moderate improvements in PP (+ 3.6%), MP (+ 2.8%), PB5 (+ 4.3%) from PRE to POST for MS group, while ES group showed a small improvement in VO2max (+ 4.1%), LT4.0 (+ 4.3%) and PB5 (+ 2.7%) from PRE to MID, and a small decrease between MID to POST in Wmax (- 4.1%) and MP (- 2.6%). These results suggest that by including a non-traditional strength training approach it is possible to maintain aerobic levels and possibly increase anaerobic parameters throughout the off-road cycling season

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Published

2016-07-04

How to Cite

Botella Ruiz, J., Sarabia, J. M., Guillén, S., López-Grueso, R., Häkkinen, K., & Sabido, R. (2016). Addition of strength training to off-road cyclists training. A pilot study. Journal of Science and Cycling, 5(3), 3-10. Retrieved from https://jsc-journal.com/index.php/JSC/article/view/236

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 3 (2016)

Section

Original articles

Copyright (c) 2016 Journal of Science and Cycling

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Authors contributing to Journal of Science and Cycling agree to publish their articles under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND license, allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, for any purpose, even commercially, under the condition that appropriate credit is given, that a link to the license is provided, and that you indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.

Authors retain copyright of their work, with first publication rights granted to Cycling Research Center.