Are Peak Power Output, Critical Power and Lower Limb Muscle Power Correlated in Recreational Endurance Cyclists?

Abstract

Although the variables associated with endurance cycling performance, as peak power output (PPO) and critical power (CP) as well with lower limb muscle power have been investigated previously, no studies have verified the association between these variables in endurance cyclists. The aims of this study were to determine and correlate PPO, CP, and lower limb muscle power in recreational endurance cyclists. Nineteen recreational endurance cyclists (31.4 ± 5.6 years) performed the following tests in the laboratory: incremental test to determine the PPO, 3-min all-out test to determine the CP, and vertical jumps (VJ) tests (squat jump [SJ], countermovement jump [CMJ], and countermovement jump with arms swings [CMJA]) to determine lower limb muscle power. The tests for PPO and CP determination were performed on the subjects’ own road bike and the VJ tests were performed on an electronic platform. The values of PPO (4.2 ± 0.5 W·kg^-1) and CP (3.8 ± 0.6 W·kg^-1) found were similar to those of other studies that evaluated recreational level endurance cyclists; a significant and "very large" correlation was also observed between these two variables (r = 0.751). In contrast, no significant correlations were found between lower limb muscle power with PPO (SJ = 0.027; CMJ = 0.075; CMJA = 0.124) and with CP (SJ = -0.122; CMJ = -0.122; CMJA = -0.093). Therefore, PPO and CP were highly correlated however, these variables obtained in the cycle tests were not associated with the lower limb muscle power determined in the VJ tests. Considering practical applications, PPO and CP represent different intensities and should be used for training prescription, while the VJ tests were not a good measure for monitoring changes in cyclist performance.