Author(s): RUŽA, Z., ČUHALOVS, R., BUMBIERE, K., UŠACKA, L., PLAKANE, L., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF LATVIA, Country: LATVIA, Abstract-ID: 1407

INTRODUCTION:
Cycling peak power output (PPO) obtained during an incremental ramp test is closely related to aerobic capacity (VO2peak), yet individuals with similar VO2peak can still achieve different PPO values [1]. Lower-body muscle strength may partly explain this variability. However, existing evidence is inconsistent and largely based on well-trained athletes or cyclists [1][2][3]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether lower-body maximal strength independently contributes to PPO beyond VO2peak in recreationally active adults.
METHODS:
Fifty-four recreationally active adults (27 males and 27 females; 73.6 ± 14.0 kg; 175.7 ± 9.2 cm; 36.6 ± 8.8 years) completed a maximal isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) to assess lower-body strength and an incremental maximal cycling ramp test to determine VO2peak and PPO. The cycling test began at 0.7 W/kg, with workload increasing by 0.1 W/kg/min until volitional exhaustion. All performance variables were expressed relative to body mass. Pearson correlations were used to examine bivariate relationships. Multiple linear regression was applied to determine independent associations with PPO (model: PPO ~ VO2peak + IMTP + sex).
RESULTS:
Males demonstrated higher PPO (3.0 ± 0.5 vs. 2.7 ± 0.5 W/kg, Cohen’s d = 0.68, p = 0.015), VO2peak (38.1 ± 6.3 vs. 34.0 ± 5.0 ml/kg/min, Cohen’s d = 0.73, p = 0.010), and net IMTP peak force (28.8 ± 5.0 vs. 21.2 ± 4.6 N/kg, Cohen’s d = 1.59, p < 0.001) compared with females. PPO was positively correlated with VO2peak (r = 0.85, p < 0.001) and net IMTP peak force (r = 0.61, p < 0.001). A positive correlation was also observed between VO2peak and net IMTP peak force (r = 0.55, p < 0.001). The regression model explained 76% of the variance in PPO (R2 = 0.76, p < 0.001). VO2peak was the dominant predictor (standardised beta = 0.74, p < 0.001), and net IMTP peak force provided additional independent explanatory value (standardised beta = 0.26, p = 0.013), whereas sex was not a significant predictor.
CONCLUSION:
In recreationally active adults, VO2peak is the strongest predictor of cycling PPO, but lower-body maximal strength explains additional variance beyond VO2peak. These findings indicate that neuromuscular factors play a meaningful role in maximal cycling performance and may partly explain why individuals with comparable aerobic capacity achieve different PPO values.

[1] Yamagishi et al., 2022; PloS one, 17(1), e0262507.
[2] Beattie et al., 2017; Int J Sports Physiol Perform, 12(4), 470-480.
[3] Llanos-Lagos et al., 2026; E. Eur J Appl Physiol, 126(1), 193-222.