Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the physiological responses and time to exhaustion, at critical power and 5% above, in trained cyclists. Equipments and methods: Eleven male cyclists completed an incremental test, three constant work rate tests to exhaustion to determine critical power (CP), and finally two tests until exhaustion at CP and CP plus 5%. Results: The modeling of the power-inverse time relationship provided a mean critical power of 295 ± 39 W. Time to exhaustion at critical power was significantly higher than 5% above (22.9 ± 7.5 min versus 13.3 ± 5.8 min). Oxygen uptake, pulmonary ventilation, and blood lactate obtained at the end of the CP plus 5% exhaustion trial were not significantly different from the maximal variables. However, the physiological end values during the CP test were significantly lower compared to the incremental test. Conclusions: These data support the idea that CP in trained cyclists is the physiological index that estimates the boundary between heavy to severe exercise domains. Thus, when cyclists exercised at a power output 5% higher than CP, the VO2max was reached at the end of exercise.
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