Ventilatory threshold was better able to predict 10km running and 40km cycling performance with sub-elite level male triathletes as compared to the lactate threshold. The purpose of this study was to compare and evaluate which laboratory-tested physiological variables best predict 10 km running and 40 km cycling time-trial (TT) performances in male sub-elite level triathletes. Seven sub-elite male triathletes performed incremental tests to exhaustion for both cycling and running in which lactate (LT) and ventilatory threshold (VT) variables, along with maximal oxygen uptake (V?O2max), were ascertained. The V-Slope method was used for VT determination, while the D-max method was used for LT determination. Subjects also completed a time trial (TT) in both disciplines, based on the distance of an Olympic distance triathlon (40km cycle and 10km run), to obtain performance time. Pearson product-moment correlations measured between LTRun (r = -0.92; p < 0.01) and VTRun (r = -0.92; p < 0.01) were highly inversely correlated with 10km TT time. The correlation between VTCycle and 40kmTT (r = -0.89: p < 0.05) indicated a high degree of relationship between the two variables. No significant correlation was yielded between 40kmTT and LTCycle (r = -0.67; p = 0.14). The primary findings of this study showed that VT was better able to predict 10km running and 40km cycling performance with sub-elite level male triathletes. Although LT was equally accurate in predicting running performance, the insensitivity of LT to hydrogen ion accumulation, as well as methodological difficulties, make it a complex alternative for predicting cycling performance when compared to VT.
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