ECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP01
INTRODUCTION: Individual time trials (ITT) represent a key discipline in road cycling, requiring the integration of multiple physiological and performance determinants, such as aerobic power, pacing strategy, and gross efficiency [1]. However, the longitudinal progression of ITT performance from youth categories to the World Tour level is scarcely researched. Therefore, the aim of this case study was to analyze longitudinal changes in mean power output and heart rate during ITT in an elite, World Tour level cyclist. METHODS: Performance data from the best annual ITT of a male World Tour cyclist (age: 23 y; height: 183 cm; body mass: 65.2 kg; estimated maximal oxygen uptake: 84 mL·kg-1·min-1 [2]; functional threshold power: 395 W) were retrospectively analyzed from 2018 (national youth level, age 15 years) to 2025 (World Tour level, age 22 years). All performance data were obtained from official national and international competitions, and were collected using on-bike power meters. Power output (absolute and relative) and heart rate, as well as distance, duration, and elevation gain, were extracted from the power meter. Changes over time were analyzed using Pearson correlations. Significance was accepted at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Strong correlations were observed between year and both absolute and relative mean power output (r = 0.89, p = 0.003 for both). Mean power during the ITTs increased substantially from 332 W (4.99 W·kg-1) in 2018 to 373 W (5.72 W·kg-1) in 2025, representing increases of 12.3% and 14.6%, respectively. Consistent with the changes in power output, a strong negative correlation was also found between year and mean heart rate during the ITTs (r = -0.87, p = 0.005). In contrast to power output, mean heart rate decreased substantially over time, declining from an average of 181 beats·min-1 to 171 beats·min-1 (5.5%). CONCLUSION: This case study provides novel insight into the progression of ITT power output and heart rate responses in an elite World Tour cyclist. Although the cyclist was already highly talented in 2018 and became an under-23 national ITT champion in 2021, large gains in mean ITT power output (12-14%) could still be achieved despite his already high training status. Interestingly, his gains in power output were achieved despite a decreased mean heart rate, suggesting that in addition to increased cardiac output, other mechanisms such as pacing strategies, aerodynamic position, and mental toughness might also play an important role in improving ITT performance. References [1] Lucia A, Hoyos J, Chicharro JL. Sports Med. 2001;31(5):325-337. [2] Sitko S, Cirer-Sastre R, Corbi F, Lopez-Laval I. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2021;17(1):9-15.
Read CV Aitor Alberdi-GarciandiaECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP01
INTRODUCTION: High-intensity interval training is a time-efficient strategy widely used to improve performance and fitness. We previously showed that brief vascular occlusion applied at exhaustion prolongs intracellular signalling and increases antioxidant capacity, responses that depend on muscle oxygenation and metabolite accumulation during recovery from intense exercise. Imposing ischaemia during recovery may therefore prolong cellular stress and potentiate training adaptations. This study tested whether adding post-exercise ischaemia to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) enhances physiological and performance adaptations. METHODS: Nineteen physically active males completed a 12-wk HIIT (3 d/wk; intervals at 85–100% of VO₂max). Participants were randomised to free circulation (CON) or ischaemic recovery (OCLU) with matched training volume. In OCLU, each recovery began with cycling with total vascular occlusion (5–10 s), extended for 20-50s while the subjects rested on the bike. Before and after training, participants performed an incremental test, repeated exercise at 120% VO₂max to assess the functional reserve, a double Wingate separated by 20-s occlusion, a 6-min performance test, and DEXA. Statistics: two-way mixed ANOVA. RESULTS: VO₂max increased in both groups (p<0.001) with similar gains in OCLU (+9.8%) and CON (+7.7%) without interaction. Wmax also increased similarly (p<0.001), including LLM-normalised values (+16.8% vs +6.3%). During the first bout at 120% VO₂max, TTE increased similarly (+71.5% vs +70.5%, p<0.001). Work·kg LLM⁻¹ increased markedly (+68.6% and +74.2%, p<0.001), attained VO₂ rose (~10–14%, p<0.001), and anaerobic contribution decreased (~−34%, p<0.05). Ventilatory responses differed: VE/VCO₂ increased in OCLU but decreased in CON (interaction p=0.011), whereas PETCO₂ decreased in OCLU but increased in CON (interaction p=0.013). The functional reserve improved, with work·kg LLM⁻¹ increasing +22.9% (OCLU) and +12.9% (CON) (p=0.001) without interaction; absolute work rose similarly (~23–26%, p<0.001) and O₂ deficit was unchanged (p>0.05). Double Wingate performance improved, especially bout 2 (p<0.05). Mean power and total work increased (p<0.001), whereas peak power did not (p>0.05). Six-min performance increased similarly (~13%, p<0.01) with reduced HRmean (p<0.05). Body composition showed interactions: fat mass ↓ and lean mass ↑ in OCLU but not CON (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: HIIT improved aerobic capacity and high-intensity performance irrespective of recovery condition. These data provide experimental evidence that functional reserve is trainable. The absence of additional performance gains with post-exercise ischaemia indicates that the additional stimulus was insufficient to further enhance the adaptation to HIIT. Differential ventilatory responses and reduced anaerobic contribution may reflect a shift toward a more oxidative phenotype. PDC2025-165723-I00; CSD (EXP_75097); SD-24/03 (ID 877) CUCIC.
Read CV Francisco Ramos-AlmeidaECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP01
INTRODUCTION: Biarticular muscles exhibit greater hypertrophy when trained at longer muscle lengths. Previous studies comparing exercises performed at different joint positions, such as seated (hip-flexed) versus prone (hip-extended) leg curl for the hamstrings and standing (knee-extended) versus seated (knee-flexed) calf raise for the triceps surae, have reported greater hypertrophy when these biarticular muscles are trained at longer lengths (Maeo et al., 2021; Kinoshita et al., 2023). In these comparisons, joint position was manipulated to alter muscle length in biarticular muscles. Similarly, incline curls performed in a shoulder-extended position (50° of shoulder extension, placing the biceps brachii at a relatively longer length) elicit greater biceps brachii hypertrophy than preacher curls performed in a shoulder-flexed position (Kobayashi et al., 2024). However, it remains unclear whether training at even longer muscle lengths within the same exercise enhances hypertrophy. Therefore, this study examined whether performing cable incline curls at a greater shoulder extension angle (90° vs 50°) provides additional hypertrophic benefits to the elbow flexors, specifically the biarticular biceps brachii. METHODS: Nine untrained healthy young adults participated in this study. Using a cable machine, participants performed incline curls with one arm at 50° of shoulder extension and the contralateral arm at 90° of shoulder extension at 70% of the position-specific one-repetition maximum. Each arm completed 5 sets of 10 repetitions per session (2 s concentric and 2 s eccentric phases), twice weekly for 12 weeks. After each session, participants reported ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) for each condition using the Borg scale (i.e., 6–20). Before and after the intervention, T1-weighted axial 3-T magnetic resonance images were obtained to assess muscle volumes of the biceps brachii, brachialis, brachioradialis, and the whole elbow flexor muscle group. RESULTS: RPE did not differ between the two conditions across all training sessions (18.2 ± 1.1 vs 18.1 ± 1.1, P = 0.885). Muscle volume significantly increased in all three muscles and in the whole elbow flexors under both conditions. Whole elbow flexor volume increased similarly in the 50° and 90° shoulder extension conditions (+11.7% vs +11.8%, P = 0.991). No differences were observed between conditions for hypertrophy of the biceps brachii (+15.9% vs +16.3%, P = 0.831), brachialis (+9.8% vs +8.8%, P = 0.569), or brachioradialis (+9.1% vs +10.0%, P = 0.393). CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that performing cable incline curls at 90° of shoulder extension does not confer additional hypertrophic benefits to the biceps brachii and elbow flexors compared with the 50° condition. REFERENCES: Maeo et al. (2021) Med Sci Sports Exerc, 53(4), 825-37. Kinoshita et al. (2023) Front Physiol, 14, 1272106. Kobayashi et al. (2024) ECSS Glasgow.
Read CV Yuto KobayashiECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP01