Physiological determinants and energy system contribution in short- and middle-distance cycling performance

On average, there was a 50-50% distribution of anaerobic and aerobic energy release at 73 s and at 180TT the distribution was 71% aerobic and 29% anaerobic. When performance was expressed in absolute watt values, strong correlations were found between 180TT and MSP (r = 0.85, p < 0.01, 95% CI [0.55, 0.93]), maximal aerobic power (MAP) (r = 0.88, p < 0.01, 95% CI [0.69, 0.95]), MAOD expressed as mL· kg^{- 1} (r = 0.81, p < 0.01, 95% CI [0.56, 0.93]) and 0.7MAP + 0.3MSP (r = 0.91, p < 0.01, 95% CI [0.77, 0.97]). MAOD measured in 180TT correlated significantly with MAOD in all the other TTs, i.e., those with the highest MAOD already at 10 s, also had the highest MAOD at 180s. Furthermore, MAOD increased rapidly between 10 and 60 s, but leveled off between 120 and 180 s. This suggests an individual maximal volume of anaerobic work that needs to be distributed across a given cycling duration.