Abstract des Autors

The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes in isokinetic leg strength parallel changes in cycling performance during a six-week high-intensity aerobic interval training program and a subsequent two-week taper. Eleven male collegiate cyclists participated in one competitive cycling graded exercise test, four consecutive days of aerobic intervals (30 min at 82.2 +/- 0.74% HRmax, 1:1 work:relife), and four continuous rides (1-2 hr at 65 - 80% HRmax) weekly. Pedalling cadence during training was generally 70 - 80 rpm suggesting a knee joint velocity of approximately 210ø/sec. Cycling performance and peak isokinetic torque (TQpk) for knee flexors (HAM) and knee extensors (QUAD) at 30, 120, 210, and 300 ø/sec were assessed before, every two weeks during, and each week for two weeks following six weeks of interval training. Performance increased significantly during training (15%) and increased further during the taper (8%). QUAD-TQpk at 30 and 120ø/sec increased significantly during training and the taper. In contrast, QUAD TQpk at 210 and 300ø/sec and HAM TQpk for all velocities were not significantly elevated following training. Interestingly, QUAD TQpk at 300 but not 210ø/sec significantly increased during the taper. Data from this study demonstrate that high-intensity aerobic interval cycling can promote gains in QUAD strength which occur primarily at contraction velocities slower than those utilized during cycling training. Additionally, a two-week taper can produce significant improvements in cycling performance (8%) and QUAD strength (8-9%) at 30 and 120ø/sec, however, the time-courses for these improvements do not parallel one another. Verf.-Referat