What Does It Take to Reach the Podium? Power Output and Heart Rate-Derived Racing Demands of Top Cyclists During Grand Tours

Abstract

Scarce evidence exists on the demands needed to attain the highest positions during Grand Tours (Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta a España). Using power output (PO) and heart rate (HR) data, we aimed to compare the racing demands of successful (at least top-5) and less successful (at least top-15) cyclists during Grand Tours. Different race-derived measures of physical demands (e.g., PO, kJ spent, training stress score, durability and repeatability measures, time in different PO/HR zones) were analyzed. Data from 9 Grand Tours, including 9 Top (average position 3rd, range 1st–5th) and 9 Non-Top cyclists (average position 9th, range 4th–12th) were available. We identified Grand Tours in which we could compare cyclists who had attained a top-5 position (Top) with riders who also competed for the General Classification but attained a worse position (Non-Top, at least top 15). Different race-derived measures of physical demands (e.g., PO, kJ spent, training stress score, durability and repeatability measures, time in different PO/HR zones) were analyzed. Data from 9 Grand Tours, including 9 Top (average position 3rd, range 1st–5th) and 9 Non-Top cyclists (average position 9th, range 4th–12th) were available. Despite significant between-group differences in finishing time (86.2 ± 6.3 vs. 86.3 ± 6.3 h, p < 0.001), no differences were found for any of the analyzed outcomes, except for a slightly higher proportion of time spent at low PO levels (zone 1 (= 55% of functional threshold power)) in Top compared to Non-Top cyclists (60.9% ± 1.8% vs. 58.4% ± 2.5%, respectively, p = 0.011). In summary, achieving a top position during a Grand Tour does not necessarily imply overall higher physical demands compared to those cases in which cyclists attain a slightly lower position, which suggests that other factors (e.g., individual or team tactics) or metrics might have a greater influence.