EFFICIENCY IN TRIATHLON CYCLING

Let´s take a look at a graphic from a track racer, performing a Points Race. If we analyze just a minute of the race, it is obvious that efficiency is the greatest factor to improve. In a minute, eight accelerations took place and depending on the rpm where the subject was AT THAT MOMENT the more or less strong acceleration takes place.  The better the subject keeps his rpm baseline up, the less acceleration needed.  Once more, a process of acceleration requires somebody able to understand the need to train and practice high rpm and to limit accelerations regarding power and number during the race (tactic).  So, efficiency will depend on how educated is our competitor.

We have spoken of Lance Amstrong in the past, and regardless of his doping problem which we do not approve, he is an example of improving efficiency during his time competing.

16 févr. 2012  ARMSTRONG, THE GREATEST PRODUCT OF OUR SCIENCE

Lance took seven years to develop his cycling economy, according to the study of Edward Coyle, 2% in seven years (Joyner, MJ and EF Coyle. Endurance exercise performance: the physiology of champions. Journal of Physiology 586:35-44, 2008).  The economy of movement has to do with technique, cadence and the quality of training in general. Greg Bennett mentioned in an interview that it took him four years to improve less than a minute in the 10k of triathlon before Athens, just by improving the economy of running; his VO2 max had a limit.  Macca is another example; he is unable to run below 31 minutes in Olympic triathlons even though he surely has a very high VO2max.  The 80´s are the limit in triathletes.

Accelerations is what wears out the competitors.  Points race is very similar to the peloton encounter in ITU triathlon except that triathlon´s peloton has less accelerations during the race; it is not a rocket science to determine that training should be similar TO TRACK TRAINING FOR A POINTS RACE.  Look at how speed goes up by increasing cadence and how the same goes down when cadence decreases, and the need of the cyclist to accelerate when his cadence drops.  If we teach cyclist to keep cadence up, the acceleration would exist, but not to the degree of increasing power to more than 2000 watts.  The question would always exist, is our athlete coachable or does he have the capacity to learn or to be taught?  This is the limit between the good and the exceptional: EDUCATION.

http://www.srm.de/us/srm-in-action/competition-with-srm/track/334-bahn