scholarly journals Power Assessment in Road Cycling: A Narrative Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 5216
Author(s):  
Sebastian Sitko ◽  
Rafel Cirer-Sastre ◽  
Francisco Corbi ◽  
Isaac López-Laval
Keyword(s):  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Fitness Level ◽  
Power Meter ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Cycling ◽  
Power Profiling ◽  
Threshold Testing ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Power Outputs

Nowadays, the evaluation of physiological characteristics and training load quantification in road cycling is frequently performed through power meter data analyses, but the scientific evidence behind this tool is scarce and often contradictory. The aim of this paper is to review the literature related to power profiling, functional threshold testing, and performance assessment based on power meter data. A literature search was conducted following preferred reporting items for review statement (PRISMA) on the topic of {“cyclist” OR “cycling” AND “functional threshold” OR “power meter”}. The reviewed evidence provided important insights regarding power meter-based training: (a) functional threshold testing is closely related to laboratory markers of steady state; (b) the 20-min protocol represents the most researched option for functional threshold testing, although shorter durations may be used if verified on an individual basis; (c) power profiling obtained through the recovery of recorded power outputs allows the categorization and assessment of the cyclist’s fitness level; and (d) power meters represent an alternative to laboratory tests for the assessment of the relationship between power output and cadence. This review elucidates the increasing amount of studies related to power profiling, functional threshold testing, and performance assessment based on power meter data, highlighting the opportunity for the expanding knowledge that power meters have brought in the road cycling field.

scholarly journals The Road to the UCI: Profiling a professional Brazilian female road cycling team

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Barreto ◽  
Luana Farias de Oliveira ◽  
Tiemi Saito ◽  
Rafael Klosterhoff ◽  
Pedro Perim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Trial ◽  
Energy Availability ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Testosterone Levels ◽  
The Road ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Road Cycling ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
Total Body ◽  
And Performance

Women’s professional cycling has grown exponentially in popularity in the past years and it has been no different in Brazil. In 2019 the first Brazilian female cycling team achieved UCI ranking status. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of data regarding the seasonal demands that these athletes encounter. This semi-observational study monitored 5 athletes from a Brazilian professional female cycling team throughout their 2018 season, obtaining training and competition data, laboratory-based physiological and performance measures, and clinical and nutritional analyses. Total distance covered over the year was 11124±2895 km (range: 7382 to 14698 km). The athletes competed in 58 races across 5 countries and 3 out of the 5 athletes sustained injuries at different moments throughout the season. Maximal oxygen uptake was reduced over the season (P=0.005), but Wingate and 4-km time-trial performance was unaltered (all P>0.05). All athletes were healthy at the start of the season as demonstrated by the clinical analyses, while all reported regular menstrual cycles; three of the five athletes were taking oral contraceptives. Immunological and haematological parameters were maintained throughout the season and there were few reported cases of infection. Nutritional and stress markers remained largely unchanged throughout the season, although testosterone levels were low for some at various moments. Mean estimated energy availability (EEA) ranged from 32.3 to 56.8 kcal·kgLBM-1·day-1 during training and from 26.4 to 53.8 kcal·kgLBM-1·day-1 during competition. The percent of training spent in optimal EEA was generally low, with three athletes spending less than 35% within the optimal intake. Bone mineral density total body Z-scores ranged from -0.6 to 0.5. Training and competition schedules of these professional Brazilian female cyclists were like those of female World Tour cyclists. Reduced exercise capacity towards the end of the season may be indicative of a gruelling year-long schedule and several of the athletes may have been exposed to sub-optimal energy availability during the season, potentially affecting testosterone levels in several athletes. No further alterations in the hormonal profile, menstrual cycle or incidences of infection were shown. These data demonstrate the complexity of professional female cycling and further longitudinal studies on top-level female cyclists are warranted.

Energy balance and performance assessment of PV systems installed at a positive-energy building (PEB) solar energy research centre

Solar Energy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
pp. 258-274
Author(s):  
C. Zomer ◽  
I. Custódio ◽  
S. Goulart ◽  
S. Mantelli ◽  
G. Martins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Positive Energy ◽  
Energy Research ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
And Performance

Female Olympians’ voices: Female sports categories and International Olympic Committee Transgender guidelines

2021 ◽  
pp. 101269022110215
Author(s):  
Cathy Devine
Keyword(s):  
Female Athletes ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
International Olympic Committee ◽  
Political Discourses ◽  
Fair Competition ◽  
Fair Inclusion ◽  
Female Sports ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Unanimous Agreement

The fair inclusion of female athletes at elite and Olympic levels is secured in most sports by way of female categories because of the extensively documented biological and performance-related differences between the sexes. International policy for transgender inclusion is framed by the definitive International Olympic Committee transgender guidelines in which the International Olympic Committee confirms the ‘overriding sporting objective is and remains the guarantee of fair competition’ and transwomen can be excluded from female categories if, in the interests of fairness, this is necessary and proportionate. Feminist theorists argue justice requires that women have equal moral standing in the sociocultural–political structures of society including sport. As such their voices should carry equal democratic weight. However, female elite and Olympic athletes are rarely heard in the sociocultural–political discourses of academic literature or policy formulation for transgender inclusion in female categories by the International Olympic Committee and governing bodies of sport. This empirical study investigated the views and presents the ‘voices’ of 19 female Olympians. The main findings include (1) these athletes thought both female and transgender athletes should be fairly included in elite sport, (2) unanimous agreement there is not enough scientific evidence to show no competitive advantage for transwomen, (3) unanimous agreement that the International Olympic Committee should revisit the rules and scientific evidence for transgender inclusion in female categories, and (4) the majority of athletes felt that they could not ask questions or discuss this issue without being accused of transphobia.

Application of the endurance time methodology on seismic analysis and performance assessment of hydraulic arched tunnels

2021 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 104022
Author(s):  
Benbo Sun ◽  
Mingjiang Deng ◽  
Sherong Zhang ◽  
Chao Wang ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Seismic Analysis ◽  
Endurance Time ◽  
And Performance

scholarly journals A Multiple Criteria Decision Making Method to Weight the Sustainability Criteria of System Selection for Surface Mining

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3066
Author(s):  
Michał Patyk ◽  
Przemysław Bodziony ◽  
Zbigniew Krysa
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Multiple Criteria Decision Making ◽  
Surface Mining ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Mining Equipment ◽  
Surface Mines ◽  
Mining Conditions ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Selection Of

Selection and assessment of mining equipment used in open pit rock mines relies chiefly on estimates of overall exploitation cost. The rational arrangement of mining equipment and systems comprising loading machines, haul trucks and crushing plants should be preceded by a thorough analysis of technical and economic aspects, such as investment outlays and the costs of further exploitation, which largely determine the costs of mining operations and the deposit value. Additionally, the operational parameters of the mining equipment ought to be considered. In this study, a universal set of evaluation criteria has been developed, and an evaluation method has been applied for the selection of surface mining equipment and the processing system to be operated in specific mining conditions, defined by the user. The objective of this study is to develop and apply the new methodology of multi-criteria selection of open pit rock mining equipment based on multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) procedures, to enable the optimization of loading, handling and crushing processes. The methodology, underpinned by the principles of MCDM, provides the dedicated ranking procedures, including the ELECTRE III. The applied methodology allows the alternative options (variants) to be ranked accordingly. Ultimately, a more universal methodology is developed, applicable in other surface mines where geological and mining conditions are similar. It may prove particularly useful in selection and performance assessment of mining equipment and process line configurations in mining of low-quality rock deposits. Therefore, we undertook to develop universal criteria and applications for the selection and performance assessment of process machines for surface mines, taking into account environmental aspects as well as deposit quality.

Epidemiological surveillance and performance assessment: the two roles of health indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-203
Author(s):  
Nathan Genicot
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The One ◽  
Massive Development

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to the massive development and use of health indicators. Drawing on the history of international public health and of the management of infectious disease, this paper attempts to show that the normative power acquired by metrics during the pandemic can be understood in light of two rationales: epidemiological surveillance and performance assessment. On the one hand, indicators are established to evaluate and rank countries’ responses to the outbreak; on the other, the evolution of indicators has a direct influence on the content of public health policies. Although quantitative data are an absolute necessity for coping with such disasters, it is critical to bear in mind the inherent partiality and precarity of the information provided by health indicators. Given the growing importance of normative quantitative devices during the pandemic, and assuming that their influence is unlikely to decrease in the future, they call for close scrutiny.

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