78. THE PHYSIOLOGY OF A POWERFUL KICK: FYBERS TYPE, CAPILLARY DENSITY AND THE SODIUM-POTASSIUM PUMP!
Aside from BMX and some track specialities, from a metabolic point of view, cycling is mainly an aerobic endurance sports. This means that most of the watts are produced using oxygen to burn the energy substrates (fat and carbs). As a consequence, having highly developed aerobic systems is crucial to be a high level cyclists, especially road and mountain bike marathon cyclists. Having a high pulmonary diffusion capacity, cardiac stroke volume, haemoglobin mass, muscle capillarization and mitochondrial density is crucial to have a high VO2max, lactate/ventilatory threshold, FTP and critical power. A well developed aerobic metabolism permit to sustain higher watts for relatively long periods (from ~5min to hours). However, in many race scenarios the final result is decided by shorter super high intensity efforts efforts lasting only ~15s to 2/3min: a sprint, a final kick/acceleration on a short climb.
What are the physiological underpinning to have a powerful kick (to be strong on short high intensity efforts)?
A classic physiology study (1) published by Marcello Iaia and Colleagues (Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre), Denmark) can help to answer this question. Understanding the physiological underpinning to be strong on short high intensity efforts can then suggest what are the best strategies to train it.
I really like classic physiology study because they investigate principles which you can then use, modulate and adapt in each unique situation.
WHAT DID THEY DO?
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