British Cycling

INTRODUCTION & AIMS Like most high performance sports, track cyclists are typically supported within the training environment by coaches and interdisciplinary practitioners who, through evidence-based practices, guide the athlete through the process of performance development. To effectively impact practice and athlete performance, practitioners must be able to implement their knowledge and expertise in a way that complements the wider performance team. The aim of this study was to examine track cycling coaches’ perspectives of the role and impact of sport science and research on their practice and the athlete development process. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with elite track cycling coaches (n=8) who had been working at the highest level of the sport (Olympics, UCI World Championships). The interviews addressed factors contributing to athlete preparation, and the current and potential impact of sport science on the development of elite track cyclists. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted to identify common themes in participants’ experiences and perspectives. RESULTS Three principal themes were identified from the data: ‘conversation & the information dynamic’, highlighting the impact of information and feedback within the performance team for developing collective training intelligence; ‘integrating performance components for the individual’, detailing the importance of individualised and integrated approaches to athletes’ performance needs; and, ‘science to complement the vision’, examining the value of filtered data, and limitations of research in practice. CONCLUSION The findings highlighted two key contributors to performance team effectiveness: athletes deeply invested in, and actively contributing to, the development process; and, performance staff identifying and filtering research and data to impact decision making and athlete development. A four-stage model was developed from the collective findings for guiding sport scientists’ impact in athlete-led practice environments. Additionally, the model outlines sport scientist-supportive actions for coaches and athletes, along with practice-supportive actions for researchers, to improve impact within the sport.

Technological approaches to carbon emission and air pollution data modelling consider where the issues are located and what is creating emissions. This paper argues that more focus should be paid to people—the drivers of vehicles or households burning fossil fuels (‘Who’) and the reasons for doing so at those times (‘Why’). We applied insights from social psychology (social identity theory and social cognitive theory) to better understand and communicate how people’s everyday activities are a cause of climate change and air pollution. A new method for citizen-focused source apportionment modelling and communication was developed in the ClairCity project and applied to travel data from Bristol, U.K. This approach enables understanding of the human dimension of vehicle use to improve policymaking, accounting for demographics (gender or age groups), socio-economic factors (income/car ownership) and motives for specific behaviours (e.g., commuting to work, leisure, shopping, etc.). Tailored communications for segmented in-groups were trialled, aiming to connect with group lived experiences and day-to-day behaviours. This citizen-centred approach aims to make groups more aware that ‘people like me’ create emissions, and equally, ‘people like me’ can take action to reduce emissions.

To assess the association between the W' and measures of neuromuscular function relating to the capacity of skeletal muscle to produce force in a group of elite cyclists. Twenty-two athletes specializing in a range of disciplines and competing internationally volunteered to participate. Athletes completed assessments of maximum voluntary torque (MVT), voluntary activation, and isometric maximum voluntary contraction to measure rate of torque development (RTD). This was followed by assessment of peak power output (PPO) and 3-, 5-, and 12-minute time trials to determine critical power. Pearson correlation was used to examine associations with critical power and W'. Goodness of fit was calculated, and significant relationships were included in a linear stepwise regression model. Significant positive relationships were evident between W' and MVT (r = .82), PPO (r = .70), and RTD at 200milliseconds (r = .59) but not with RTD at 50milliseconds and voluntary activation. Correlations were also observed between critical power and RTD at 200milliseconds and MVT (r = .54 and r = .51, respectively) but not with PPO, voluntary activation, or RTD at 50milliseconds. The regression analysis found that 87% of the variability in W' (F1,18 = 68.75; P < .001) was explained by 2 variables: MVT (81%) and PPO (6%). It is likely that muscle size and strength, as opposed to neural factors, contribute meaningfully to W'. These data can be used to establish training methods to enhance W' to improve cycling performance in well-trained athletes.

ABSTRACT Introduction Road cycling is a very common recreational and elite sport. To facilitate consistent reporting of injuries and illness in professional road cycling we want to establish terms, definitions, and methods for injury and illness reporting in elite road cycling epidemiology studies, similar to other sports. Aims/objectives The aim of this study is to establish an international expert statement for injury and illness reporting in professional road cycling. Methods We initially conducted a literature review of the injury and illness epidemiology studies in sport and identified popular terms, definitions, and methods which could be applied to road cycling. These terms were then reviewed by our expert panel, with clarification of terms and definitions and additional terms added, if required. The final consensus statement was then agreed by all authors. Results The relevant definitions for use in professional road cycling epidemiology studies have been agreed. Injury rates should be reported as per 1,000 hours of cycling training, both in and outdoors, and per 1,000 hours of competition as well as per 1,000 hours of non-cycling training. Discussion We encourage authors to use this expert paper when undertaking injury and illness epidemiology studies in professional road cycling to increase the rigor of the studies as well as allowing comparability between different road cycling studies and epidemiology studies in other sports.

The purpose was to determine the physiological correlates to cycling performance within a competitive paratriathlon. Five wheelchair user and ten ambulant paratriathletes undertook laboratory-based testing to determine their: peak rate of oxygen uptake; blood lactate- and ventilatory-derived physiological thresholds; and, their maximal aerobic power. These variables were subsequently expressed in absolute (l∙min -1 or W), relative (ml∙kg-1∙min -1 or W∙kg -1) and scaled relative (or ml∙kg - 0.82 ∙min -1, ml∙kg - 0.32 ∙min -1 or W∙kg -0.32) terms. All athletes undertook a paratriathlon race with 20 km cycle. Pearson's correlation test and linear regression analyses were produced between laboratory-derived variables and cycle performance to generate correlation coefficients (r), standard error of estimates and 95% confidence intervals. For wheelchair users, performance was most strongly correlated to relative aerobic lactate threshold (W∙kg -1) (r=-0.99; confidence intervals: -0.99 to -0.99; standard error of estimate=22 s). For ambulant paratriathletes, the greatest correlation was with maximal aerobic power (W∙kg -0.32) (r=-0.91; -0.99 to -0.69; standard error of estimate=88 s). Race-category-specificity exits regarding physiological correlates to cycling performance in a paratriathlon race with further differences between optimal scaling factors between paratriathletes. This suggests aerobic lactate threshold and maximal aerobic power are the pertinent variables to infer cycling performance for wheelchair users and ambulant paratriathletes, respectively.

The purpose of the present article is to share the design and impact of a coach-athlete relationship coach education seminar. The seminar is part of the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC) National Team Coach Leadership Education Program (NTCLEP). Development and delivery of the seminar is facilitated by The People Academy (www.people.academy). Impact results from participation in this seminar are drawn from coaches and athletes from USA Archery and USA Cycling. The article is organized into three sections. In the first section an overview of the coach-athlete relationship building component of the USOC’s high performance coach education program is provided. Two case summaries are then presented on the impact of the program on coach-athlete relationships and athlete performance. The third and final section is used to offer suggestions for future coach education initiatives and coaching strategies aimed at enhancing coach-athlete relationships.

A simple and sustainable recycling approach has been undertaken to treat two industrial wastes of divergent nature to mitigate the challenges of environmental hazards, human health and supply-risk of the metal of concern along with lowering the energy costs.

Exercising in the heat induces thermoregulatory and other physiological strain that can lead to impairments in endurance exercise capacity. The purpose of this consensus statement is to provide up-to-date recommendations to optimise performance during sporting activities undertaken in hot ambient conditions. The most important intervention one can adopt to reduce physiological strain and optimise performance is to heat acclimatise. Heat acclimatisation should comprise repeated exercise-heat exposures over 1–2 weeks. In addition, athletes should initiate competition and training in a euhydrated state and minimise dehydration during exercise. Following the development of commercial cooling systems (eg, cooling-vest), athletes can implement cooling strategies to facilitate heat loss or increase heat storage capacity before training or competing in the heat. Moreover, event organisers should plan for large shaded areas, along with cooling and rehydration facilities, and schedule events in accordance with minimising the health risks of athletes, especially in mass participation events and during the first hot days of the year. Following the recent examples of the 2008 Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, sport governing bodies should consider allowing additional (or longer) recovery periods between and during events, for hydration and body cooling opportunities, when competitions are held in the heat.