Are Peak Oxygen Uptake and Power Output at Maximal Lactate Steady State Obtained from a 3-Min All-Out Cycle Test?

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine whether 1) the power output attained in the last 30 s of a 3-min all-out test (P_end) correlates with the power output at maximal lactate steady state (P_MLSS) and whether 2) peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) can be obtained from a 3-min all-out test in well-trained cyclists. 18 cyclists (23±3 years; 186.1±6.9 cm; 79.1±8.2 kg; VO_2peak: 63.2±5.2 mL · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹) performed a ramp test, a 3-min all-out test and several submaximal constant 30 min-workload tests at +15, 0, −15, −30, −45, −60,−75, −90 W of P_end to obtain P_MLSS. P_MLSS was significantly lower compared to P_END (p<0.001; mean difference: 54±18 W) with a high correlation (r=0.93; R²=0.87; p<0.001) but great intra-individual variability (15–90 W). There were no mean differences between the ramp-VO_2peak and 3-min all-out cycling VO_2peak (p=0.29; mean difference: 133±514 mL · min⁻¹) showing significant correlation (r=0.60; R²=0.37; p=0.006) but great intra-individual variability (1 057–1 312 mL · min⁻¹). We therefore suggest that in well-trained cyclists a 3-min all-out test is 1) not sufficient to obtain P_MLSS and 2) should not be applied to assess VO_2peak.

Key words

cycling - endurance - humans - lactic acid - male - oxygen consumption

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