Acta Medica Medianae
Vol. 49, No 3, September, 2010
UDK 61
ISSN 0365-4478(Printed version)
ISSN 1821-2794(Online)
 

Correspondence to:

Biljana Nikolić Radionička 6

11460 Beograd, Srbija

E-mail: biljamaric@yahoo.com

Original article
UDC: 796.61:613.73:612.173

Readiness profile of junior cyclists determined by

Leipzig test

         Milivoj Dopsaj, Biljana Nikolić, Sanja Mazić and Jovan Zlatković

                        University of Belgrade, Faculty of Sport and  Physical Education,  Analytic and Diagnostic in Sports¹

                        Republic Institute for Sport, Sports Department , Belgrade²

                        Republic Institute for Sport, Sport Medicine, Belgrade³

The aim of this paper was to define the readiness profile of junior cyclists determined by the Leipzig test. The second aim was to find out if there were differences in functional performance among cyclists in different disciplines, such as: road cyclists, mountain bikers and sprinters. All cyclists (n=18) were tested with Leipzig test protocol on a bicycle ergometer by increasing the load by 40W per minute, pedalling cadence 90-100rev/min. The hearth rate was measured at the beginning and at the end of the test, together with the maximal oxygen uptake  (VO_2max). The results have shown that the maximal oxygen uptake among national junior cyclists in all disciplines was VO_2max 56.42±5.82 ml•min^-1kg^-1, among mountain biking cyclist VO_2max was 61.43±4.94, sprinters VO_2max 56.78±3.33 and for cross-country cyclists VO_2max 53.37±7.82. The statistical analysis of the functional performance results has snown that between subsamples of cyclists there were no significant differences on general level. However, the partial analysis has snown that there is a statistically significant difference between the groups in the hart rate values on an anaerobic threshold (F value 4.547, p=0.032). In conclusion, the tested cyclists were prepared using general training methods even if they had competitions in different disciplines. Therefore, the level of readiness shows that the training process for young cyclists which is used in Serbia is not specific for the competition level and discipline. Acta Medica Medianae 2010;49(3):32-39.

Key words: cycling, testing, functional readiness, Leipzig testing protocol