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Br J Sports Med 2007;41:23-28 doi:10.1136/bjsm.2006.029603
  • Original article

Maximal lipidic power in high competitive level triathletes and cyclists

  1. C González-Haro1,
  2. P A Galilea2,
  3. J M González-de-Suso3,
  4. F Drobnic4,
  5. J F Escanero5
  1. 1Escuela Profesional de Medicina de la Educación Física y el Deporte, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  2. 2Centro de Alto Rendimiento de Sant Cugat del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain
  3. 3Real Sociedad de Fútbol SAD, Servicios Médicos, Donostia, Spain
  4. 4Centro de Alto Rendimiento de Sant Cugat del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain
  5. 5Departamento de Farmacología y Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr Carlos González-Haro
 Escuela Profesional de Medicina de la Educación Física y el Deporte, Universidad de Barcelona, C/Hortal, 53–55, 08032 Barcelona, Spain; ghcarlos{at}gmail.com
  • Accepted 9 October 2006
  • Published Online First 24 October 2006

Abstract

Objective: To describe the fat-oxidation rate in triathlon and different modalities of endurance cycling.

Methods: 34 endurance athletes (15 male triathletes, 4 female triathletes, 11 road cyclists and 4 male mountain bikers) underwent a progressive cycloergometer test until exhaustion. Relative work intensity (VO2max), minimal lactate concentration (La−min), lactic threshold, individual lactic threshold (ILT), maximal fat-oxidation rate (Fatmax, Fatmax zone) and minimal fat-oxidation rate (Fatmin) were determined in each of the groups and were compared by means of one-way analysis of variance.

Results: No significant differences were found for Fatmax, Fatmin or for the Fatmax zone expressed as fat oxidation rate (g/min). Intensities −20%, −10% and −5% Fatmax were significantly lower for mountain bikers with respect to road cyclists and female triathletes, expressed as % VO2max. Intensities 20%, 10% and 5% Fatmax were significantly lower for mountain bikers with respect to male triathletes and female triathletes, and for male triathletes in comparison with female triathletes, expressed as % VO2max. Lactic threshold and La−min did not show significant differences with respect to Fatmax. Lactic threshold was found at the same VO2max with respect to the higher part of the Fatmax zone, and La−min at the same VO2max with respect to the lower part of the Fatmax zone.

Conclusions: The VO2max of Fatmax and the Fatmax zone may explain the different endurance adaptations of the athletes according to their sporting discipline. Lactic threshold and La−min were found at different relative work intensities with respect to those of Fatmax even though they belonged to the Fatmax zone.

Footnotes

  • Funding: This work was supported by a grant (DOGC number 3885 16.05.2006) from the Direcció General de l’Esport, Generalitat de Catalunya.

  • Competing interests: None declared.

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