Journal of Applied Physiology Fuel your research with LabChart
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Appl Physiol (March 17, 2005). doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00216.2005
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Free
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
98/6/2191    most recent
00216.2005v1
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Coyle, E. F
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Coyle, E. F
Submitted on February 22, 2005
Accepted on March 10, 2005

Improved muscular efficiency displayed as 'Tour de France' champion matures

Edward F Coyle1*

1 Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: coyle{at}mail.utexas.edu.

This case describes the physiological maturation from ages 21-28 y of the bicyclist who has now become the six-time consecutive 'Grand-Champion' of the 'Tour de France', at ages 27-32 y. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in the trained state remained at approximately 6 l/min, lean body weight remained at approximately 70 kg and maximal heart rate declined from 207 to 200 beats/min. Blood lactate threshold was typical of competitive cyclists in that it occurred at 76-85% VO2max, yet maximal blood lactate concentration was remarkably low in the trained state. It appears that an 8% improvement in muscular efficiency and thus power production when cycling at a given VO2 is the characteristic that improved most as this athlete matured from ages 21-28 y. It is noteworthy that at age 25 y this champion developed advanced cancer , requiring surgeries and chemotherapy. During the months leading up to each of his 'Tour de France' victories, he reduced body weight and body fat by 4-7 kg (i.e.; approximately 7%). Therefore, over the seven year period, an improvement in muscular efficiency and reduced body fat contributed equally to a remarkable 18% improvement in his steady-state power per kg body weight when cycling at a given VO2. (e.g.; 5 l/min). It is hypothesized that the improved muscular efficiency probably reflects changes in muscle myosin type stimulated from years of training intensely for 3-6 h on most days.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
C. J. Gore, M. J. Ashenden, K. Sharpe, and D. T. Martin
Delta efficiency calculation in Tour de France champion is wrong
J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2008; 105(3): 1020 - 1020.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
E. F. Coyle
Reply to Gore, Ashenden, Sharpe, and Martin
J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2008; 105(3): 1021 - 1021.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Br. J. Sports. Med.Home page
A. Lucia, J. Olivan, J. Bravo, M. Gonzalez-Freire, and C. Foster
The key to top-level endurance running performance: a unique example
Br. J. Sports Med., March 1, 2008; 42(3): 172 - 174.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
M. J. Joyner and E. F. Coyle
Endurance exercise performance: the physiology of champions
J. Physiol., January 1, 2008; 586(1): 35 - 44.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
P. M. Garcia-Roves, J. Huss, and J. O. Holloszy
Role of calcineurin in exercise-induced mitochondrial biogenesis
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, June 1, 2006; 290(6): E1172 - E1179.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
M. Mogensen, M. Bagger, P. K. Pedersen, M. Fernstrom, and K. Sahlin
Cycling efficiency in humans is related to low UCP3 content and to type I fibres but not to mitochondrial efficiency
J. Physiol., March 15, 2006; 571(3): 669 - 681.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Am Coll CardiolHome page
J. S. Woo, C. Derleth, J. R. Stratton, and W. C. Levy
The Influence of Age, Gender, and Training on Exercise Efficiency
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., March 7, 2006; 47(5): 1049 - 1057.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
T. D. Noakes, P. E. di Prampero, C. Capelli, T. Zaobornyj, L. B Valdez, A. Boveris, M. Ashenden, T. W. Secomb, S. Dufour, E. Ponsot, et al.
Comments on Point:Counterpoint "Positive effects of intermittent hypoxia (live high:train low) on exercise performance are/are not mediated primarily by augmented red cell volume"
J Appl Physiol, December 1, 2005; 99(6): 2453 - 2462.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
D. T. Martin, M. J. Quod, C. J. Gore, and E. F. Coyle
Has Armstrong's cycle efficiency improved?
J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2005; 99(4): 1628 - 1629.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
Y. O. Schumacher, S. Vogt, K. Roecker, A. Schmid, and E. F. Coyle
Scientific considerations for physiological evaluations of elite athletes
J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2005; 99(4): 1630 - 1631.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PhysiologyHome page
Highlights from the Literature
Physiology, October 1, 2005; 20(5): 287 - 291.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH
Visit Other APS Journals Online
Copyright © 1948 by the American Physiological Society.