This study investigated the physiological, performance and training characteristics of U23 cyclists and assessed the requirements of stepping up to the elite/international ranks. Twenty highly trained U23 cyclists (age, 22.1 ± 0.8 years; body mass, 69.1 ± 6.8 kg; VO_2max, 76.1 ± 3.9 ml·kg^-1·min^-1) participated in this study. The cyclists were a posteriori divided into two groups based on whether or not they stepped up to elite/international level cycling (U23_ELITE vs. U23_NON-ELITE). Physiological, performance and training and racing characteristics were determined and compared between groups. U23_ELITE demonstrated higher absolute peak power output (p = .016), 2 min (p = .026) 5 min (p = .042) and 12 min (p = .001) power output as well as higher absolute critical power (p = .002). Further, U23_ELITE recorded more accumulated hours (p = .001), covered distance (p = .001), climbing metres (p = .001), total sessions (p = .001), total work (p = .001) and scored more UCI points (p = .001). These findings indicate that U23_ELITE substantially differed from U23_NON-ELITE regarding physiological, performance and training and racing characteristics derived from laboratory and field. These variables should be considered by practitioners supporting young cyclists throughout their development towards the elite/international ranks.
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