Effect of pedal cadence on the accumulated oxygen deficit, maximal aerobic power and blood lactate transition thresholds of high-performance junior endurance cyclists

In this study we investigated the effect of pedal cadence on the cycling economy, accumulated oxygen deficit (AOD), maximal oxygen consumption (V˙O_2max) and blood lactate transition thresholds of ten high-performance junior endurance cyclists mean (SD): 17.4 (0.4) years; 183.8?(3.5)?cm, 71.56?(3.75)?kg]. Cycling economy was measured on three ergometers with the specific cadence requirements of: 90–100?rpm for the road dual chain ring (RDCR_90–100rpm) ergometer, 120–130?rpm for the track dual chain ring (TDCR_120–130rpm) ergometer, and 90–130?rpm for the track single chain ring (TSCR_90–130rpm) ergometer. AODs were then estimated using the regression of oxygen consumption (V˙O₂) on power output for each of these ergometers, in conjunction with the data from a 2-min supramaximal paced effort on the TSCR_90–130rpm ergometer. A regression of V˙O₂ on power output for each ergometer resulted in significant differences (P<0.001) between the slopes and intercepts that produced a lower AOD for the RDCR_90–100rpm 2.79 (0.43)?l] compared with those for the TDCR_120–130rpm 4.11?(0.78)?l] and TSCR_90–130rpm 4.06 (0.84)?l]. While there were no statistically significant V˙O_2max differences (P?=?0.153) between the three treatments RDCR_90–100rpm: 5.31?(0.24)?l?·?min^?1; TDCR_120–130rpm; 5.33?(0.25)?l?·?min^?1; TSCR_90–130rpm: 5.44?(0.27)?l?·?min^?1], all pairwise comparisons of the power output at which V˙O_2max occurred were significantly different (P?90–100rpm and TDCR_120–130rpm tests for power output (P?=?0.003) and blood lactate (P?=?0.003) at the lactate threshold (Th_la?), and for power output (P?=?0.005) at the individual anaerobic threshold (Th_iat). Our findings emphasise that pedal cadence specificity is essential when assessing the cycling economy, AOD and blood lactate transition thresholds of high-performance junior endurance cyclists.