The purpose of this study was to compare the critical power (CP) with exercise intensities measured as a percentage of the difference between VO2 at lactate threshold (LT) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (25, 50 and 75%Delta) in well-trained cyclists. Methods After determination of the LT and VO2max, 14 male endurance cyclists performed three constant work rate tests to exhaustion to determine CP. Results VO2 (ml kg-1 min-1) at CP (59.9 ± 6.6) was significant higher than VO2 corresponding to 25 (50.4 ± 6.9) and 50%? (55.3 ± 6.5). There was no significantly difference between VO2 at CP and VO2 corresponding to 75%? (60.1 ± 6.2). Conclusions It was concluded that researchers intending to explore the responses of well-trained cyclists in the severe-intensity domain have to set exercise intensities higher than 75%Delta.
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