Eur J App! Physiol (1996) 73:446 451 © Springer-Verlag 1996 Sabino Padilla • Ifiigo Mujika • Guillermo Cuesta • Jose Mari Polo • Jean-Claude Chatard Validity of a velodrome test for competitive road cyclists Accepted: 28 November 1995 Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a velodrome field test consisting of repeated rides of 2,280 m, with an initial speed of 28 kin" h- 1 and increments of 1.5 km" h- 1 interspersed with 1-min recovery periods until exhaustion. A group of 12 male competitive road cyclists performed maximal cycling tests under velodrome and laboratory conditions. Velodrome oxygen uptake (1/O2) and power output were estimated using equations previously published. Physiological responses to the two tests were com- pared. Relationships between performance in the velodrome and physiological parameters measured in the laboratory were studied. Maximal power output, heart rate and 1)O2 were similar in the velodrome and the laboratory [-372 (SD 50) vs 365 (SD 36) W, 195 (SD 8) vs 196 (SD 9) beats- min- 1 and 4.49 (SD 0.56) vs 4.49 (SD 0.46) 1" rain- 1 respectively], while maximal velod- rome blood lactate concentration was significantly higher [-13.5 (SD 2.1) vs 11.8 (SD 3.1) retool'l-I]. Velodrome heart rate was higher at submaximal exer- cise intensities representing 40%, 50% and 60% of maximal aerobic power, and velodrome blood lactate concentration was also higher at 60%, 70% and 80% of maximal aerobic power. The laboratory parameter s. Padilla Departamento de Alto Rendimiento, Instituto Vasco de Educaci6n Fisica, Sore Hezkuntzako Euskal Erakundea (I.V.E.F. - S.H.E.E.), Carretera de Lasarte s/n, E-01007 Vitoria - Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain I. Mujika' J-C. Chatard Laboratolre de Physlologie - GIP Exercme Universlt6 Jean Monnet, Facult6 de M6decine, Saint-Etienne, France G. Cuesta • J.M. Polo Servicio de Deportes, Diputaci6n Foral de Alava, E-01007 Vltoria - Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spare I. Mujika (N~) Departamento de Alto Rendammnto, Instltuto Vasco de Educacx6n Fisica, Soin Hezkuntzako Euskal Erakundea, Carretera de Lasarte s/n, E-01007 Vitoria - Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain that showed the highest correlation with the maximal cycling speed in the velodrome was maximal oxygen uptake (VOzmax) expressed per unit of body mass (r = 0.93). In addition, the accuracy of different methods of estimation of the metabolic cost of cycling, rolling resistance, air resistance coefficients and VO2max were compared. Significant differences were found. In conclusion, the present results indicated the validity of a velodrome test used to estimate maximal aerobic parameters of competitive road cyclists, as long as the estimation is made using established equations. When road cyclists are tested in the laboratory, physiological values should be expressed per unit of body surface area or body mass, to predict more accurately the cyc- list's performance level under specific field conditions. Key words Power output" Heart rate. Oxygen uptake' Blood lactate' Performance in field test Introduction Even though several studies have shown the validity of laboratory tests to evaluate accurately the physiolo- gical potential of cyclists (La Voie et al. 1988; Marion and L6ger 1988; Seifert and Langenfeld 1988) using sport-specific test equipment that is familiar to the cyclist would seem to be a very important considera- tion. The cycle ergometer has been the most usual means of determining a cyclist's physiological and biomechanical parameters (Coast and Welch 1985; Faria et al. 1989; Hagberg et al. 1981; Sjogaard 1984). Performance in these conditions is represented by the mechanical power output, which is the product of the friction force and velocity of the flywheel. The friction force is overcome by forces exerted efficiently on the pedals by the legs of the cyclist. This power output is measured in watts. In road and indoor track cycling, on the other hand, performance is most usually represented by the cyclist's