Objective To describe the cumulative fatigue based on volume and power output from 12 professional male cyclists during two consecutive editions of the Giro d`Italia. Methods Volume and power output were recorded during the competitions and described according to time at different intensity zones based on power output (Z0 lower to Z7 higher). Correlations, principal component analysis (PCA), Gaussian clustering, and two-way ANOVA were performed (type error I of 5%). Results The higher intensity zones elicited higher power output in shorter stages (R2 = 0.54). In contrast, the lower intensity zones were predominant in longer stages. The time spent in Z1 to Z3 (r = 0.67, 0.84, and 0.73, respectively) correlated more with the stage's volume duration than time in Z4 to Z7 (r = 0.48, 0.44, 0.51, and 0.38, respectively). The normalized volume declined between stages 2 to 4, 8 to 10, 13 to 15, and 18 to 19. Time spent in Z4 and Z6 reduced one or two stages before reduction of time in Z1. In contrast, time increase in higher intensity zones was observed when time in Z1 reduced. Finally, average power in Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, Z5, Z6, and Z7 explained 63.62%, 18.20%, 8.12%, 5.84%, 2.98%, 1.20%, and 0.02% of the total variance in the normalized time volume, respectively. Volume and power zone data can recognize cumulative fatigue and performance recovery during a grand tour. Rest days favored performance recovery, mainly the second rest day.
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