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Int J Sports Med 2022; 43(14): 1183-1189
DOI: 10.1055/a-1847-5414
Training & Testing

Differences in Training Characteristics Between Junior, Under 23 and Professional Cyclists

Gabriele Gallo
1   Department of Experimental Medicine, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
,
Peter Leo
2   Department of Sports Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
,
Manuel Mateo March 
3   Sports Science, Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche, Elche, Spain
,
Andrea Giorgi
4   Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, Universita degli Studi di Siena – Presidio San Miniato, Siena, Italy
,
Emanuela Faelli
5   DIMES, Universita degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
,
Piero Ruggeri 
6   experimental medicine, Universita degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy
,
Iñigo Mujika
7   Physiology and Training, USP Araba Sport Clinic, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
,
Luca Filipas 
8   Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Abstract

The aim was to compare the training characteristics of junior, under 23 and professional road cyclists. Training data collected during the 2019 competitive season of thirty male cyclists, divided into three age-related categories (JUN; U23; PRO), were retrospectively analyzed for training characteristics, external and internal training load. Higher duration per training session were observed in PRO (2.6±0.3 h) compared to both U23 (2.2±0.3 h; P<0.001) and JUN (2.0±0.2 h; P<0.001). Elevation gain per distance was higher in PRO (13.8±1.9 m·km−1) compared to U23 (10.6±0.9 m·km−1; P=0.001) and JUN (6.7±0.3 m·km-1; P<0.001), and in U23 compared to JUN (P<0.001). Annual total work was lower in JUN (3694±467 kJ·kg−1) compared to U23 (5268±746 kJ·kg−1; P=0.001) and PRO (5759±1103 kJ·kg−1; P<0.001). eTRIMP per hour was higher in JUN (151±40) compared to both U23 (115±23; P=0.003) and PRO (112±22; P=0.013). JUN spent more training time at medium and high heart rate intensity zones compared to U23 and PRO (P<0.05).

Key words

youth cycling - cycling training - training characteristics - internal load - external load


Publication History

Received: 28 December 2021

Accepted: 05 May 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
09 May 2022

Article published online:
09 August 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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