Abstract

In cycling the total energetic cost of the performance is done by the sum of the aerodynamic energetic expenditure (Ca) plus the non aerodynamic expenditure (Cna). In order to reduce the energetic cost it is important for the athlete during race, to reduce the projected area on the frontal plane. An useful method to obtain such reduction is that to stay behind an other athlete who sets the pace and on which entirely is charged the Ca. With the aim to try to calculate the possible gain, the behaviour of the heart rate of 6 couples of athletes was analysed; they were cycling for 30 minutes on the ring of a track at a constant measured speed of 30 km per hour; each component of the couple was pedalling for 15 minutes before the tellow and for 15 minutes behind him. The analysis of heart rate behaviour was done by Holter monitoring. At the same speed, the position behind allowed to gain in terms of heart rate the 10.5 on average as compared to position before. It is probable that the gain in terms of heart rate indirectly reflects a lower oxygen uptake for the same performance (distance run at constant speed), and the lower cost has to be exclusively ascribed to the reduction of Ca being Cna constant. Verf.-Referat