TY - JOUR AU - Miller, Matthew C PY - 2014/06/30 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Validity of using functional threshold power and intermittent power to predict cross-country mountain bike race outcome JF - Journal of Science and Cycling JA - J Sci Cycling VL - 3 IS - 1 SE - DO - UR - https://jsc-journal.com/index.php/JSC/article/view/78 SP - 16-20 AB - <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> Validity of using functional threshold power and intermittent power to predict cross-country mountain bike race outcome.  <strong>Purpose</strong>: Field tests are important for athletes and sport practitioners as they offer valuable information on performance without demanding the time and cost to visit a laboratory.  This study tested the ability of relative functional threshold power (FTP) and intermittent power (IP) field-tests to be used as predictors of cross-country mountain bike (XC-MTB) race finishing time (RT).  <strong>Methods</strong>: Eleven well-trained male XC-MTB cyclists (mean age: 35.8 ± 8.2 yr; mean mass: 80.8 ± 13.4 kg) volunteered for this study.  Relative (W/kg) FTP and relative IP were collected from field tests with the mean of all work intervals was recorded as IP and FTP calculated from 95% of mean maximal 20-minute power.  RT was collected during a mass-start 17.4 km simulated XC-MTB race.  <strong>Results</strong>: Both IP (r<sup>2</sup>=0.786) and FTP (r<sup>2</sup>=0.736) models were able to significantly predict RT (p &lt; 0.001). However, the prediction errors were less when using Relative IP than Relative FTP (273.5 s versus 303.6 s).  <strong>Conclusion</strong>: A field-based IP test can be used as a benchmark for the determination of XC-MTB athlete ability and preparedness.  Athlete improvements can be tracked using an IP test. ER -