Abstract des Autors

Background: Duathlon, an emerging sport discipline, is an endurance competition based on a sequence without interruption of running, cycling and again running fractions. The performance in duathlon, as well as triathlon, depends on the ability of the athlete to effect the three competition fractions without creating fatiguing levels which would inevitably cause a decrease of the performance in the following fractions. Currently there are no studies which have examined the relation between ventilatory threshold (Tvent) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in the cyclists and the runners comparing them with the ones of the athletes who train and compete in duathlon. Therefore the main aims of the present study have been the following ones: 1) the identification of the relationship between Tvent and VO2max in eight elite duathletes for cycling and running and the comparison of said relationship with the one found in cyclists or runners in maximal trials with cycloergometer and on the treadmill. 2) Moreover it has been carried out an analysis of the modification of the physiological parameters through the laboratory simulation of the commitment faced in a duathlon competition by a top duathlete (Case Report). Methods: The research methods have been the following: a) maximal incremental test - till exhaustion - on treadmill and cycloergometer carried out on eight duathletes in different days and with an interval of no more than seven days between one trial and the other; b) incremental exhaustion test carried out on a top duathlete on cycloergometer after 5 km of running; incremental exhaustion test on treadmill after 5 km of running and 30 km of cycling. Results: The study has shown, through its data, that VO2max recorded in the duathletes during running and cycling was inferior to the values recorded for triathletes. For the duathletes, VO2max obtained with running was higher than the value obtained with cycling. The ventilatory threshold (Tvent) recorded in duathletes was lower than the value reported for elite runners but comparable with the one reported for race cyclists, duly endurance trained. Conclusions: These data can be explained with the different training methods for duathletes, both as far as quantity and quality are concerned, in comparison with race top athletes in the single disciplines confirming that the fit answers to the endurance exercise in the single sport are, in par, a function of motion schemes specific for that training. Verf.-Referat