TRAINING LOAD AND CHANGES IN PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AMONG YOUNG CYCLISTS

• Published in: Kinesiologia slovenica Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 5 - 14
• Main Authors: Rauter, Samo, Jurov, Iva, Milić, Radoje
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ljubljana University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sport 01.12.2020
• Subjects: Bicycling; Body fat; Heart rate; Laboratories; Load; Metabolism; Methods; Physiology; Questionnaires; Success; Ventilation
• ISSN: 1318-2269; 2232-4062
• DOI: 10.52165/kinsi.26.3.5-14

Monitoring several aspects of training load, anthropometric characteristics and physiological characteristics of cyclists can be a very important factor for success in the cycling world. The study aimed to establish the differences between some physiological parameters computed by metabolic gas measurements. The study sample included 86 cyclists age 15 to 18 years (BM = 63.4 ± 7.9 kg, BH = 176 ± 7.4 cm, % body fat = 9.9% ± 3.2 %). In the first part of the study, they completed a questionnaire about the evaluation of the training process, where we identified their training habits – the frequency (13.76 ± 3.7 hours per week) and intensity of their training methods (31.7 ± 19.1% of low-intensity training). In the second part of the study, we did laboratory testing (body composition and incremental cycling test). The results showed that changes depend on the cyclists` age group. The maximal peak power output (+32.1%; p<0.01); relative maximal peak power output (+9.2%; p>0.01), and maximal oxygen uptake (+ +6,1%; p>0.05) . The main finding of the study was that as the age of a cyclist increases, there is a tendency to increase training load and may influence their performance at the laboratory test.