Recent information indicates that in professional cyclists the rate of the VO2 rise,
elicited by graded exercise, decreases at moderate to high work-loads
to the maximal attainable power output.[24] More importantly, these authors
observed that mechanical seemed to increase with rising exercise
intensity. These findings
reveal that professional cyclists acquire a high cycling efficiency al-
lowing them to sustain extremely high work-loads extended periods of time. To that end, profes-
sional racers exhibit considerable resistance to fatigue of recruited motor units at high submaximal
intensities.[46,56] The years of training and mileage required to achieve this characteristic is unknown.
Nonetheless, professional riders generally cycle ~35 000 km/year and compete ~90 days.[24]
This training volume impacts the cyclist’s efficiency. The professional cyclist’s efficiency during
heavy exercise appears to be positively related to the percentage of type I fibres in the vastus lateralis
muscle.[57] A higher proportion of type I fibres in the muscle is associated with a lower submaximal oxycost,
thus a greater gross efficiency.[58] This is a reflection of the increase in aerobic
metabolism and related increases in muscle power output.[34]
......
Lucia et al.[89] found that, in professional worldclass cyclists, both CE and GE were inversely correlated to VO2max.
In this regard, it has been shown that in professional cyclists, the rate of the VO2 elicited by gradual increases in exercise workload
decreases at moderate to high workloads to the maximum attainable power output. Additionally, efficiency appears to increase with ris-
ing cycling intensity.[95] Lucia et al.[89] suggest that a high CE/GE might compensate for a relatively low VO2max.
