THE INFLUENCE OF CYCLISTS’ COMPETITIVE LEVEL AND EXERCISE INTENSITY ON CRANK TORQUE VARIABILITY DURING PEDALLING

The purpose of this study was to analyse the influence of competitive level and pedalling intensity on crank torque variability. Seventy-two cyclists (Club, Elite, Professional) pedalled at 200, 250 and 300 W on a cycle ergometer that recorded crank torque. Multiple-trial variability (average standard deviation) and complexity (Sample Entropy) analyses were applied. Both competitive level and pedalling intensity showed a significant effect on Sample Entropy values of crank torque, with a significant interaction between the two factors, while average standard deviation was only affected by pedalling intensity. In conclusion, pedalling intensity had an effect on both crank torque multiple-trial variability and complexity, while the last has shown a bigger potential for fine discrimination between performance levels in cyclists

BENEFITS OF DRAFTING ON THE LEADING CYCLIST: A PRELIMINARY FIELD STUDY

The effect of drafting on the aerodynamic drag of a trailing cyclist has been widely investigated. However, no experimental field study has quantified under field conditions the potential benefit of this strategy on the leading cyclist, which is the purpose of the present study. Therefore, a protocol based in a previous study performed in velodrome (García-López et al., 2014) was designed. Results indicate that drafting decrease the leading cyclist’s drag area (CdA) by 2.6 and 3.3%, and the trailing cyclist’ CdA by 31.9 and 19.3%, depending on the trailing cyclist position on the bicycle (i.e., aero vs. upright position, respectively). Although Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) values behaved similarly to CdA (i.e., when CdA decreased RPE also decreased), RPE method was not sensitive enough to detect small changes in aerodynamic drag

”SUPER SPIKES” INCREASE 40-M SPRINT PERFORMANCE IN NATIONAL-LEVEL WOMEN ATHLETES

The aim of this work was to quantify the effect of adding carbon fiber plates in the midsole of spike shoes (i.e., super spikes ) on 40-m sprint performance. Eight female national level athletes completed four 40-m sprints using two different types of footwear (i.e., traditional spikes and “super spikes”). The main results showed an improvement of 0.6% in performance when the athletes wore super spikes (i.e., 0.031 s in 0-40 m), mainly in the flying phase (i.e., 0.026 s in the 20-40 m), which could be due to an increase in leg and vertical stiffness (i.e., greater in the super spikes ) and a reduction in the ground contact time (i.e., less time with “super spikes”). Also, this improvement seems to be related to the sprinter’s performance level. In conclusion, wearing super spikes has a positive effect on 40-m sprint performance compared to conventional spikes

The challenge of bikefit in women: current situation and future prospects

[ES] Llevar una postura correcta sobre la bicicleta durante la práctica de ciclismo de carretera es muy importante para prevenir lesiones y mejorar el confort, el rendimiento y la seguridad. Una revisión de la literatura revela que un gran porcentaje de ciclistas sufre molestias ocasionadas por un incorrecto ajuste de la bicicleta o tipo de sillín utilizado. Entre las más comunes caben mencionarse el entumecimiento en la zona perineal, la excoriación o la hematuria. Específicamente en mujeres se ha detectado que tanto los diferentes modelos como los métodos de ajuste del sillín utilizados no son verdaderamente útiles, siendo las molestias en la zona perineal más frecuentes que en hombres. A la vista de estos problemas, en los últimos años se han desarrollado modelos de sillín específicos para mujer. Sin embargo, sólo unos pocos estudios han analizado el efecto de éstos sobre el confort en las mujeres durante el pedaleo.[EN] Having a correct bike-fit while cycling is one of the main factors affecting performance, comfort and efficiency, as well as injury prevalence. A literature review shows that a large number of cyclists experience some discomfort due to poorly bike fit or saddle type choices, been saddle soreness, chafing or haematuria the most common. When it comes to female cyclists, neither the currently used bikefit methods nor the saddle types have been found to be effective, as saddle soreness is even more common in women than men. As a result, some women’s specific saddles have been developed in the last couple of years. However, the amount of research conducted on this topic is still scarce.S

Training Characteristics and Competitive Demands in Women Road Cyclists: A Systematic Review

[EN] Purpose: To identify the main training characteristics and competitive demands in women’s road cycling. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on 5 databases according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis) guidelines. The articles had to be primary studies, written after 1990 with a sample of competitive women between the ages of 15 and 50. The Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies and the Oxford Levels of Evidence scales were used. Results: The search yielded 1713 articles, of which 20 were included. Studies on training and competitive demands (n = 5) found that both external and internal loads are higher in women than in men. Studies on strength and endurance training (n = 5) showed that both velocity-based and heavy-load strength training programs performed at least 2 days per week and including 3 to 4 lower- body exercises improved performance. Altitude-training studies (n = 3) found that “Live High–Train Low” was effective to increase performance during the first 9 days after the training camp. The 7 remaining studies focused on a range of topics. The methodological quality was strong for 12 studies and moderate for 8. In contrast, the level of evidence was high in 7 and low in the other 13. Conclusions: Endurance training and competitive demands in women’s road cycling are higher than those of men. Strength training is effective in women when the frequency, intensity, and number of exercises are appropriate, while altitude training should be completed a few days before competing. Further studies are warranted to better define the participants’ competitive level, using a methodological design with a higher level of evidence.SIMinistry of Universities of Spai

Concurrent Validity and Reliability of Two Portable Powermeters (Power2Max vs. PowerTap) to Measure Different Types of Efforts in Cycling

[EN] The purpose was to assess the concurrent validity and reliability of two portable powermeters (PowerTap vs. Power2Max) in different types of cycling efforts. Ten cyclists performed two submaximal, one incremental maximal and two supramaximal sprint tests on an ergometer, while pedaling power and cadence were registered by both powermeters and a cadence sensor (GarminGSC10). During the submaximal and incremental maximal tests, significant correlations were found for power and cadence data (r = 0.992–0.997 and 0.996–0.998, respectively, p < 0.001), with a slight power underestimation by PowerTap (0.7–1.8%, p < 0.01) and a high reliability of both powermeters (p < 0.001) for measurement of power (ICC = 0.926 and 0.936, respectively) and cadence (ICC = 0.969 and 0.970, respectively). However, during the supramaximal sprint test, their agreement to measure power and cadence was weak (r = 0.850 and 0.253, p < 0.05) due to the low reliability of the cadence measurements (ICC between 0.496 and 0.736, and 0.574 and 0.664, respectively; p < 0.05) in contrast to the high reliability of the cadence sensor (ICC = 0.987–0.994). In conclusion, both powermeters are valid and reliable for measuring power and cadence during continuous cycling efforts (~100–450 W), but questionable during sprint efforts (>500 W), where they are affected by the gear ratio used (PowerTap) and by their low accuracy in cadence recording (PowerTap and Power2Max).S

Learning situation in Physical Education and Physics and Chemistry: interdisciplinary work in LOMLOE

[ES] En la nueva ley educativa se establece con claridad la importancia de llevar a cabo un trabajo interdisciplinar en la etapa de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, indicando la posibilidad de organizar las diferentes materias en ámbitos, con el objetivo de garantizar el desarrollo integrado de todas las competencias de la etapa desde un enfoque transversal. No es sencillo encontrar propuestas que relacionen diferentes materias desde un enfoque transversal e interdisciplinar, que detallen el trabajo a desarrollar y, además, puedan llegar a integrarse en un ámbito de varias materias. En el presente artículo, se relacionan las materias de Educación Física y Física y Química. En la primera, se trabajarán actividades en el medio natural, en concreto el franqueamiento de obstáculos y la cabuyería, posibilitando el desarrollo cooperativo de acciones de servicio a la comunidad en la que se apliquen medidas de seguridad. Por otra parte, en Física y Química se plantea un trabajo de fuerzas y poleas que servirá de nexo de unión con el realizado en Educación Física, y que permitirá al alumnado formular hipótesis y demostrar, a través de la experimentación científica, los razonamientos del pensamiento científico. Por lo tanto, el principal objetivo del presente artículo es desarrollar una propuesta de trabajo interdisciplinar donde el aprendizaje adquirido y vivenciado en las clases de cabuyería en Educación Física ayude al alumnado a comprender mejor los saberes básicos relacionados con las fuerzas y las poleas en Física y Química, llevando a cabo un aprendizaje competencial.[EN] The new Spanish educational law establishes the importance of cross-curricular learning in secondary education, pointing out the possibility of organizing subjects by fields, with the aim of guaranteeing the integral development of all competencies. Nowadays there are only a few, fully detailed, cross-curricular learning proposals, that can be developed in different subjects adopting a transversal approach. Physical Education and Physics and Chemistry are the subjects chosen for the interdisciplinary work developed in this work. Physical Education will focus on outdoor recreational activities, specifically knot-tying and ropes courses, allowing the development of community services related to security measures. These activities will serve as a link between the two areas, as the Physics and Chemistry lessons will focus on the basic concepts of forces and pulleys. All of the above will allow the students to formulate hypothesis and to demonstrate, through scientific experimentation, the scientific thinking. Therefore, the main aim is to develop an interdisciplinary work in which a competency-based learning is implemented, where the knowledge acquired in the knottying Physical Education lessons may be useful to achieve a better understanding of the basics of forces and pulleys learned in Physics and Chemistry.S

The Impact of Sex and Biological Maturation on Physical Fitness in Adolescent Badminton Players

[EN] The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of maturity status and sex on selected measures of physical fitness in adolescent badminton players. Eighty-one badminton players (39 boys, 42 girls; age: 12.7 ± 1.4 years; body height: 153.5 ± 10.5 cm; body mass: 48.3 ± 13.2 kg) participated in the study and were divided into pre-peak height velocity (PHV, n = 31), circa-PHV (n = 29), and post-PHV (n = 21) groups. The assessment of physical fitness included linear sprint (5-m, 10-m) and change-of-direction (CoD) speed tests using a modified 5-0-5 CoD test (CoD deficit [CoDD%]) and an on-court CoD test, as well as the countermovement jump (CMJ) test as a proxy of lower limbs’ muscle power. Pre-PHV players presented lower performance levels (p < 0.001; ES: 1.81–1.21) than post-PHV in CMJ, linear sprint (5, 10-m) speed, and both CoD tests. In addition, compared to circa-PHV, pre-PHV players demonstrated moderately lower performances in the 10 m sprint and CoD tests (p < 0.05; ES: 0.65–1.00). Regarding the CoDD%, no between-group differences were found. Irrespective of the maturity status, boys outperformed girls in CMJ (p = 0.01; ES: 0.71), linear sprint speed (p < 0.05, ES: 0.52–0.77), and the modified 505 test (p = 0.01; ES: 0.71). Findings only showed significant sex-by-maturity interactions for the pre-PHV group. In addition, sex-related performance differences were found in favor of the boys for most measures except for CoDD%. Our results imply that maturity status (i.e., PHV) and not chronological age should be used to design training programs. Female adolescent badminton players should receive specifically targeted exercise interventions based on their fitness status and needsS

Variable Pacing Is Associated with Performance during the OCC® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® (2017–2021)

[EN] The current evidence suggests that pacing may not be affected by performance level or sex in trail-running races as may occur in road running races. However, the previous studies included races of >100 km. Therefore, we aimed to verify the influence of performance level and sex on pacing in the last four (2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021) editions of a shorter (56.3 km) ultra-trail running race (i.e., Orsières–Champex–Chamonix; OCC®) that maintained the same race profile. The mean finishing time for the 5656 participants was 10 h 20 min 33 s ± 2 h 01 min 19 s. Pacing variability (CV%) was higher in high-level participants, thus showing a greater ability to adapt their pace to the race profile than low-level runners. Males also had a higher pacing variability than females although the effect sizes were small. Based on the current findings, we may recommend for non-elite OCC® participants to adapt their pace to the race profile with a slower pace during uphills and a faster pace during downhills. Further studies including participants’ experience are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of this suggestion in trail-running races of variable distances.S

Efecto de la edad relativa en el fútbol amateur de Cantabria (España)

El concepto efecto de la edad relativa (RAE) alude a una serie de ventajas que obtienen los jóvenes nacidos en los primeros meses del año deportivo respecto a los nacidos a finales de año, debido a su mayor grado de madurez física, mental y emocional. El objetivo del presente estudio consistió en verificar si el efecto de la edad relativa está presente en las categorías amateurs del fútbol español, o si por el contrario, este se va atenuando a medida que nos alejamos del análisis de los equipos de alto nivel. La muestra comprendía un total de 1488 jugadores pertenecientes a las 4 categorías de fútbol amateur en Cantabria (3ªDivisión, n=379; Regional Preferente, n=357; Primera Regional, n=340; y Segunda Regional, n=412). Los resultados indican que existe poco efecto del RAE en el conjunto total de todas las posiciones en función del trimestre de nacimiento, pero sí que existe un efecto grande en función del semestre. Así mismo, en función de la categoría existe un efecto claro en 3ªDivisión en función del trimestre de nacimiento. Por tanto y como conclusión general, podemos afirmar que el RAE tiene un menor impacto en el fútbol amateur que en el fútbol profesional