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Sistema de Bibliotecas Universidad Finis Terrae
El Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad FinisTerrae, es gestionado por el Sistema de Bibliotecas y tiene por objetivo permitir el acceso libre a la producción académica e institucional de la Universidad, aumentando la visibilidad de sus contenidos y garantizando su conservación.
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Mechanistic influence of the torque cadence relationship on power output during exhaustive all-out field tests in professional cyclists
(Taylor & Francis, 2025-03-15) Leo, Peter; Martinez-Gonzalez, Borja; Mujika, Iñigo; Giorgi, Andrea
Understanding the torque-cadence-power relationship can be important in assessing a cyclist’s performance potential. This study explored these relationships in elite male cyclists (N = 17; age: 24.1 ± 3.8
years; body mass: 66.0 ± 4.8 kg, critical power (CP): 5.5 ± 0.3 W.kg−1) through sprint, torque, and CP tests conducted in fresh and after accumulated work. Testing protocols, performed during a pre-season training camp, included maximal efforts across varied gear ratios and durations (15 s, 3 min, and 12 min), under stable environmental conditions (15–20°C). Results revealed reduced power output, torque, and cadence after accumulated work compared to fresh conditions (p ≤ .001). Sprint-derived maximum torque (Tmax) was strongly correlated with torque intercepts for CP fresh (r = .558, p = .020) and after accumulated work (r = .556, p = .020). The cadence relationships demonstrated a large negative correlation between maximum cadence (Cmax) and optimum cadence (Copt) from the sprint test and the 15 s, 3 min and 12 min cadence recorded during CP after accumulated work (r = -0.541 to −0.634, p = 0.006 to 0.025). These findings highlight that accumulated work-induced reductions in work capacity (W’) and CP values were accompanied by lower cadences across all effort durations.
What Is “Zone 2 Training”?: Experts’ Viewpoint on Definition, Training Methods, and Expected Adaptations
(Human Kinetics, Inc., 2025-02-26) Sitko, Sebastian; Artetxe, Xabier; Bonnevie-Svendsen, Martin; Galán-Rioja, Miguel Ángel; Gallo, Gabriele; Grappe, Frédéric; Leo, Peter; Mateo, Manuel; Mujika, Iñigo; Sanders, Dajo; Seiler, Stephen; Zabala, Mikel; Valenzuela, Pedro L.; Viribay, Aitor
The role of high-volume low-intensity training for enhancing endurance performance has gained growing interest in recent years. Specifically, so-called “zone 2 training” is currently receiving much attention, and many propose that this is the target intensity at which a large proportion of total endurance training should be performed. However, despite the popularity of this concept, there is no clear consensus among coaches, athletes, and scientists regarding the definition of zone 2 training. Purpose: This commentary summarizes the perspectives, experience, and knowledge of an expert panel of 14 applied sport scientists and professional coaches with the aim of providing insight and a basis for definitional consensus on zone 2 training. Moreover, potential training strategies at this intensity are proposed, and the expected physiological adaptations when exercising at this intensity and related research gaps are also discussed. Results: Experts reached consensus that zone 2 training should preferably be performed at intensities located immediately below the first lactate or ventilatory threshold through continuous, variable, or interval-type sessions. Furthermore, experts expected a broad range of central and peripheral adaptations from zone 2 training. These expected adaptations might not be unique to zone 2 and could also be induced with sessions performed at slightly higher and lower intensities. Conclusions: This commentary provides practical insight and unified criteria regarding the preferred intensity, duration, and session type for the optimization of zone 2 training based on the perspectives of acknowledged sport scientists and professional coaches.
Current Periodization, Testing, and Monitoring Practices of Strength and Conditioning Coaches
(Human Kinetics, Inc., 2025) Washif, Jad Adrian; James, Carl; Pagaduan, Jeffrey; Lim, Julian; Lum, Danny; Raja Azidin, Raja Mohammed Firhad; Mujika, Iñigo; Beaven, Chistopher Martyn
This study investigated the periodization, testing, and monitoring practices of strength and conditioning practitioners across different levels of coaching experience and sports. Methods: An online survey was completed by 58 practitioners (25 sports/events) from 9 Southeast and East Asian countries. The survey focused on periodization models, programming frameworks, unloading strategies, fitness assessments, and pretraining readiness monitoring. Frequency analysis and chi-square tests were used to assess data distribution and differences. Results: Hybrid (multiple) periodization was favored over a single model for different training objectives (39%–45%), including very short-term training (≤4 wk). Emerging approaches, including flexible programming, were similarly adopted (43%). Program adjustment was primarily driven by athlete feedback (90%), self-observation (78%), and technical execution (74%). Major programming challenges identified were managing fatigue (72%), optimizing training stimuli (53%), specificity (50%), and adherence (47%). Deloading practices (95%) and tapering applications (91%) were common. Physical performance changes were primarily identified from testing (90%) but also athlete/coach feedback (76%), monitoring (71%), training data (67%), and performance data/statistics (62%). Strength assessments were conducted 2 to 4 times yearly (67%) using 1 to 4 exercises (76%). Pretraining readiness was monitored via conversations (71%), wellness tools (46%), and performance devices (31%). Practitioners also utilized monitoring technology, force plates (21%), and velocity-tracking devices (23%). Training load was commonly quantified using volume load (81%) and session RPE (72%). None of the comparisons differed across experience levels and sports types (P > .05). Conclusion: Practitioners adopted multiple periodization models, incorporating flexible approaches. Unloading strategies were commonly applied alongside various assessment methods. Technologies were used for monitoring, but conversational/subjective methods remained more widespread.
What It Takes to Win: Examining Predicted Versus Actual Swimming Performances at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and What Comes Next
(Human Kinetics, Inc., 2025-02-13) Powell, Cormac; Pyne, David B.; Crowley, Emmet; Mujika, Iñigo
Predictions of performances should be evaluated to confirm their accuracy. Work by this group has resulted in 3 sets of predictions being generated for swimming events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, using the same statistical approach for each set. Purpose: To examine the accuracy of swimming predictions for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and generate updated predictions for both the Singapore 2025 World Aquatics Championships and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Methods: A linear regression and forecasting function was used to generate predictions for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games across 3 performance categories (rank 1st–3rd, 4th–8th, and 9th–16th). Mean absolute error was used to assess the accuracy of the predicted versus actual Paris 2024 Olympic Games times for all events across the 3 performance categories. New predictions for the 2028 Olympic cycle were subsequently generated using results from the World Championships and Olympic Games between 2011 and 2024. Results: Across all events, a mean absolute error value of 0.84% was observed between the Paris 2024 Olympic Games predicted and actual times. Predicted times were highly correlated with actual times (r2 = .99). Across the 3 sets of predictions (created in 2022, 2023, and 2024), the 2023 set of predictions had the lowest overall mean absolute error value (0.55%). Conclusions: The methods used to create predictions for swimming performances at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
were deemed accurate. These methods enable national swimming federations to create a series of predictions for a given major championship, inform athlete identification and development pathways, and allocate appropriate resources, including sport-science provision.
Hematological adaptations to altitude training in female water polo players: a case report of a world championships medal-winning team
(MDPI, 2025-01-31) Mujika, Iñigo; Mara, Jocelyn; Zelenkova, Irina; Rodrigo, Zacca; Pyne, David B.
Background: The effective monitoring of athletes’ adaptation is crucial to optimize the outcomes of altitude camps and minimize the risk of maladaptation to the hypoxic stress and intensive training. This case report assessed the hematological adaptations in 22 world-class female water polo players during a 16-day ‘live high-train high’ (LHTH) altitude camp (2320 m) and evaluated the differences between selected (n = 13) and non-selected (n = 9) players and between playing positions. Methods: Hematological parameters, including total hemoglobin mass (tHBmass) and blood volume, were measured before and after the camp. Resting heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, body mass, fatigue, and sleep were monitored daily. Results: Relative tHbmass increased PRE to POST (5.4 ± 5.1%, range −3.9–20.2), but blood volume did not change (p = 0.797). Erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and red cell distribution width increased PRE–POST (p < 0.001, ES = 1.21–2.69), while mean corpuscular volume and hemoglobin decreased (p < 0.001, ES = 0.51 and 0.72, respectively). No substantial differences were observed in the hematological parameters between selected and non-selected players. There was a large difference in the change in relative blood volume between centers (n = 4, PRE 74.1 ± 5.4, POST 69.7 ± 5.9 mL/kg; mean ± SD) and field players (n = 15, PRE 80.8 ± 10.6, POST 82.8 ± 6.8 mL/kg; adj p = 0.046, ES = 1.15) and between centers and goalkeepers (n = 3, PRE 89.7 ± 9.6, POST 82.0 ± 7.1 mL/kg; adj p = 0.046, ES = 1.62). Conclusions: A 16-day LHTH camp can induce favorable hematological adaptations in world-class women’s water polo players, without substantial differences between selected and non-selected players, and larger increases in field players.