ABSTRACT
Complex performance diagnostics in sports medicine should contain maximal aerobic and maximal anaerobic performance. The requirements on appropriate stress protocols are high. To validate a test protocol quality criteria like objectivity and reliability are necessary. Therefore, the present study was performed in intention to analyze the reliability of maximal lactate production rate ([Formula: see text]Lamax) by using a sprint test, maximum oxygen consumption ([Formula: see text]O2max) by using a ramp test and, based on these data, resulting power in calculated maximum lactate-steady-state (PMLSS) especially for amateur cyclists. All subjects (n = 23, age 26 ± 4 years) were leisure cyclists. At three different days they completed first a sprint test to approximate [Formula: see text]Lamax. After 60 min of recreation time a ramp test to assess [Formula: see text]O2max was performed. The results of [Formula: see text]Lamax-test and [Formula: see text]O2max-test and the body weight were used to calculate PMLSS for all subjects. The intra class correlation (ICC) for [Formula: see text]Lamax and [Formula: see text]O2max was 0.904 and 0.987, respectively, coefficient of variation (CV) was 6.3% and 2.1%, respectively. Between the measurements the reliable change index of 0.11 mmol·l (-1)s (-1) for [Formula: see text]Lamax and 3.3 mlkg (-1)min (-1) for [Formula: see text]O2max achieved significance. The mean of the calculated PMLSS was 237 ± 72 W with an RCI of 9 W and reached with ICC = 0.985 a very high reliability. Both metabolic performance tests and the calculated PMLSS are reliable for leisure cyclists.
