The physiological responses to running after cycling in elite junior and senior triathletes

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the physiological responses in cycling and the energy cost (EC) of running after cycling in elite junior (J(male) and J(female)) and senior (S-male and S-female) triathletes and to determine the relationship between laboratory physiological parameters and performance in an elite "standard" distance triathlon. Thirty-one elite triathletes competing at World Championship level (age: 23.4 +/- 4.8 y; height: 172.6 +/- 6.8 cm; body mass: 64.4 +/- 7.2 kg; (V)over dotO(2) max = 67.8 +/- 8.3 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) comprising J(male) (n=7), J(female) (n=6), S-male (n=9) and S-female (n=9) athletes performed a laboratory trial that consisted of submaximal treadmill running (to determine EC), maximal then submaximal cycle ergometry (to determine the peak power output [PPO], (V)over dotO(2)max, the ventilation threshold [VT] and cycling economy) followed by an additional submaximal running bout. Swimming, cycling, running, and overall race performance (min) over a standard event, was also measured in the field. S-male had a faster cycle, run and overall triathlon times than J(male)-S-female demonstrated a faster cycle and overall triathlon time than J(female). The (v)over dotO(2)max (74.7 +/- 5.7 vs. 74.3 +/- 4.4 and 60.1 +/- 1.8 vs. 61.0 +/- 5.0 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and cycling economy (72.5 +/- 4.5 vs. 73.8 +/- 4.3 and 75.6 +/- 4.5 vs. 79.8 +/- 9.8 W x l(-1) x min(-1)) were similar between the junior and senior, in both male and female triathletes. However, S-female possessed a significantly higher PPO than J(female)-S-male had a higher VT (%(V)over dotO(2)max) than J(male) whereas the VT was similar in J(female) and S-female. There were no significant differences in EC change from the first to the second running bout between J(male) and S-male whereas, in contrast, J(female) exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) higher difference in EC than S-female. When all subjects were pooled, the overall triathlon time (min) was significantly correlated to (V)over dotO(2)max (r=-0.80; p < 0.001) and PPO (W) (r=-0.85; p < 0.001) in cycle ergometry. In conclusion, elite senior triathletes can be distinguished from their younger (junior) counterparts, mainly by a higher PPO in cycling and a lower increase in the whole body energy cost of running after cycling in female and by a higher ventilatory threshold in male triathletes.