Differences in execution and perception of training sessions as experienced by (semi-)professional cyclists and their coach

Authors

  • Jens G. Voet Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, The Netherlands
  • Robert P. Lamberts Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
  • Jos J. de Koning Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, The Netherlands
  • Jelle de Jong Team DSM
  • Carl Foster Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, USA
  • Teun van Erp Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa

Keywords:

sRPE, RPE, Load management, high-performance, monitoring

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate whether (semi-)professional cyclists’ execution of a training program differs from the coach’s designed training program. Also, the study sought to ascertain, in instances where the training sessions were indeed executed as designed by the coach, whether the perception of the cyclists differed from the intention of the coach. This study highlights the differences between the coach and the individual cyclist. In total 747 training sessions were collected from 11 (semi-)professional cyclists. Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and session Rating of Perceived Exertion (sRPE) were compared with intended RPE (iRPE) and intended sRPE (isRPE), planned by the coach. Pearson’s correlation, regression coefficients and Typical Error of Estimate (TEE) were used to identify differences between the executed and planned training sessions. Moderate to large TEEs were noted between executed and intended sRPE, which indicates that cyclists do not always execute the training program planned by the coach. Furthermore, when the training was executed as planned by the coach, very large correlations but moderate to very large TEEs were noted between cyclists’ (s)RPE and the coach’s i(s)RPE, with unique individual regression coefficients. This indicates that the relationship between RPE and iRPE is unique to each cyclist. Both the different execution and perception of the training program by the individual cyclists could cause an impaired training adaptation. Therefore, the coach must pay attention to the perception of training sessions by the individual cyclist. Improved individual management of training load could result in the optimization of the proposed training program.

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Published

2021-11-30

How to Cite

Voet, J. G., Lamberts, R. P., de Koning, J. J., de Jong, J., Foster, C., & van Erp, T. (2021). Differences in execution and perception of training sessions as experienced by (semi-)professional cyclists and their coach. Journal of Science and Cycling, 10(2). Retrieved from https://jsc-journal.com/index.php/JSC/article/view/668