External and Internal Work Load During a Mountain Time Trial in Trained Handcyclists Versus a World-Class Handcyclist and Determinants of Performance.
Sonja de Groot, Ingrid Kouwijzer, Sven P Hoekstra and 3 others
PMID 35583450WHAT IT FOUND
A world-class handcycle rider had higher peak power and a faster race time than 10 trained riders.
In the trained riders, higher peak power and power at the second breathing threshold were linked to faster finish times.
Key findings
01The trained handcyclists had lower peak power and lower power at the second ventilatory threshold than the world-class handcyclist, while peak heart rate was similar.
02During the race, trained handcyclists spent less time in moderate power zone 2 and more time in high power zone 3 than the world-class handcyclist.
03Finish time was most strongly linked to power at the second ventilatory threshold in the lab test and to average power on the flat race section.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 11 of 36 selected participants had usable race data, so the findings may not represent all HandbikeBattle participants. The analyzed trained group was small and all male, and the world-class comparison was one person. The analyzed group was selected by fitness and equipment, and the excluded participants had lower peak power, lower peak oxygen uptake, and slower finish times. The world-class rider used a different graded exercise test protocol, which could have affected peak power. The study did not correct for disability or weather conditions and did not collect weather or handcycle information.
Declared interests
Funded by HandicapNL, Stichting Mitialto, Stichting Beatrixoord Noord-Nederland, University Medical Center Groningen, Heliomare Rehabilitation Center, and Stichting Handbike Events. The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that training at the second ventilatory threshold improves finish time. The study did not test training, and the high dropout rate means results cannot be generalized to all HandbikeBattle participants.