Introduction In road cycling, advanced monitoring of load and effort during training and competition is used extensively. Various laboratory and field tests are used to determine training zones in cycling. One common method is an incremental laboratory test to determine physiological thresholds that help predict performance. The protocol used depends on threshold being targeted, whether it's the lactate threshold or the ventilation threshold. In addition, training zones can be determined by analyzing the power profile, characterized by two key parameters: the critical power (CP) and the W', the latter representing the maximum power sustained above the CP and usually associated with anaerobic capacity. Purpose The study holds significant importance as it aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of a newly developed cycling field test protocol (1-5-15) to determine cyclists' training zones. In addition, the validity of this protocol will be compared with already established field test methods, particularly the field test protocol (12-7-3) and laboratory incremental test. Methods The sample included 20 trained young competitive cyclists, consisting of 10 females (age:16.57±1.73 years; height:168.9±6 cm; body weight:60±5.5 kg; VO2max:57.3±6.9 ml/min/kg) and 10 males (age:17±1.7 years; height:179.4±6 cm; body weight:69.4±5.9 kg; VO2max: 69.4±3.4 ml/min/kg). A body composition analysis was performed before the start of experiment. Subsequently, the cyclists performed load tests, an established field test protocol on a bicycle to determine the "power profile" (12'-7'-3') and twice the new field test protocol on a bicycle to determine the "power profile" (1'-5'-15') on four different days at intervals of 2-3 weeks in random order. Results The study investigated the correlation between field tests used in cycling to determine training zones and exercise tests. Specifically, we found a strong relationship between the RC point in the incremental cycling test and the CP in the cycling field test (1'-5'-15'). Conclusion With the increasing use of performance measurement devices and their availability, field tests are economically and organizationally more favorable. As established performance profile test 12-7-3 is quite demanding in motivation, we have also validated a new field test for the performance profile 1-5-15, in which the order of test duration is reversed (from shorter to longer) with a stronger anaerobic component.
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