ORIGINAL ARTICLE Maximal torque- and power-pedaling rate relationships for elite sprint cyclists in laboratory and field tests A. Scott Gardner Æ James C. Martin Æ David T. Martin Æ Martin Barras Æ David G. Jenkins Accepted: 16 May 2007 / Published online: 12 June 2007 Ó Springer-Verlag 2007 Abstract Performance models provide an opportunity to examine cycling in a broad parameter space. Variables used to drive such models have traditionally been measured in the laboratory. The assumption, however, that maximal laboratory power is similar to field power has received limited attention. The purpose of the study was to compare the maximal torque- and power-pedaling rate relationships during ‘‘all-out’’ sprints performed on laboratory ergom- eters and on moving bicycles with elite cyclists. Over a 3- day period, seven male (mean ± SD; 180.0 ± 3.0 cm; 86.2 ± 6.1 kg) elite track cyclists completed two maximal 6 s cycle ergometer trials and two 65 m sprints on a moving bicycle; calibrated SRM powermeters were used and data were analyzed per revolution to establish torque- and power-pedaling rate relationships, maximum power, maximum torque and maximum pedaling rate. The inertial load of our laboratory test was (37.16 ± 0.37 kg m 2 ), approximately half as large as the field trials (69.7 ± 3.8 kg m 2 ). There were no statistically significant differ- ences between laboratory and field maximum power (1791 ± 169; 1792 ± 156 W; P = 0.863), optimal pedaling rate (128 ± 7; 129 ± 9 rpm; P = 0.863), torque-pedaling rate linear regression slope (–1.040 ± 0.09; –1.035 ± 0.10; P = 0.891) and maximum torque (266 ± 20; 266 ± 13 Nm; P = 0.840), respectively. Similar torque- and power- pedaling rate relationships were demonstrated in laboratory and field settings. The findings suggest that maximal laboratory data may provide an accurate means of model- ing cycling performance. Keywords Cadence  Power  World-class  Track cycling  Fitness testing Introduction Maximal cycling torque- and power-pedaling rate rela- tionships have been the focus of numerous laboratory- based investigations (Sargeant et al. 1981; McCartney et al. 1983; Vandewalle et al. 1985; Linossier et al. 1993; Martin et al. 1997). The authors of these studies have generally reported a linear torque-pedaling rate relationship and a quadratic power-pedaling rate relationship. Similar rela- tionships have been found using a variety of techniques including isokinetic (Sargeant et al. 1981), force–velocity (Vandewalle et al. 1985) and inertial load cycling tests (Martin et al. 1997). In each of these tests, subjects were usually seated and in order to avoid metabolic fatigue, the trials were short (e.g., <6 s). A. S. Gardner  D. T. Martin Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia A. S. Gardner  D. G. Jenkins School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia A. S. Gardner Centre of Excellence, Queensland Academy of Sport, Nathan, Australia J. C. Martin Department of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA M. Barras Cycling Program, Australian Institute of Sport, Adelaide, Australia A. S. Gardner (&) Department of Physiology, English Institute of Sport, Gate 13, Rowsley St, Manchester M11 3FF, UK e-mail: scott.gardner@eis2win.co.uk 123 Eur J Appl Physiol (2007) 101:287–292 DOI 10.1007/s00421-007-0498-4