Prediction of performance in duathlon competititon

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship between performance during a duathlon competition and some variables commonly used as indices of fitness in the laboratory evaluation of physical fitness. Therefore, nineteen physical education students were trained for 12 weeks. During the first six weeks they only run, while during the last six weeks they combined running and cycling. They participated in three duathlon competitions: prior to the beginning of the training program, after 6 weeks and at the end of the training. Close to these competitions incremental exercise tests and submaximal tests were performed to assess the VO2 max and the ventilatory threshold (VT1 and VT2), both in the treadmill and in the cycleergometer. Additionally, the running economy and cycling economy were determined through the VO2/intensity relationship, obtained by linear regression. It is shown that the maximal workload and maximal velocity attained during the incremental exercise test were the best predictors of duathlon performance, regardless of training effects.