PHYSIOLOGICAL-CHANGES IN MALE COMPETITIVE CYCLISTS AFTER 2 WEEKS OF INTENSIFIED TRAINING

To study the physiological response to heavy training, seven male competitive cyclists intensified their normal training program for two weeks (IIT) in order to achieve a state of short-term overtraining. The subjects underwent a graded cycle ergometer test to exhaustion, an outdoor 8.5 km time trial and a computerized test to study reaction time and visual perception, before, during and after the two weeks of intensified training and after two weeks of recovery. Furthermore subjects kept a daily log in the form of a questionnaire. After two weeks of IIT all subjects showed symptoms of overtraining: the general state of well being declined as indicated by the questionnaire while performances on time trial (xbar +/- SEM: 830 +/- 14 sec-871 +/- 19 sec), contests and maximal power output (xbar +/- SEM: 336 7 watt-310 +/- 5 watt) declined significantly. Maximal (xbar +/- SEM 11.8 +/- l.l mmol . l-1-5.9 +/- 0.5 mmol . l-1) and submaximal lactate values were significantly lowered during ergometer test after the IIT, while the workload at the 4 mmol point increased significantly (xbar +/- SEM 234 +/- 10 watt-267 +/- 13 watt). Sleeping heart rate increased significantly (xbar +/- SEM 49.5 +/- 9.3 BPM-54.3 +/- 8.8 BPM). Maximal heart rate (xbar +/- SEM 185 +/- 3 BPM-178 +/- 2 BPM, mean heart rate during the time trial (xbar +/- SEM 178 +/- 2 BPM-169 +/- 2 BPM) and VO2max (xbar +/- SEM 4801 +/- 121 ml.min-1-4409 +/- 101 ml . min-1) were all significantly lowered by the IIT. No significant changes were found in body weight and fat, in RT(xbar +/- SEM 260 +/- 12 ms-251 +/- 7 ms)and PT (xbar +/- SEM 79 +/- 4 %-83 +/- 4 %). After two weeks of recovery a state of super-compensation was observed. All variables returned to their reference level or showed an improvement although the subjects still felt tired. This is indicative for over-reaching (22). We conclude that lowered maximal and submaximal lactates in combination with decreased performance and declined maximal heart rates can indicate a state of over-reaching. In addition increased heart rate during sleep is also indicative. From a time trial, finishing time and mean heart rate can be used as additional measurements to indicate imminent or early overtraining in male competitive cyclists.