Comparison of FTP test power outputs of cyclists at different cadences

The aim of this study is to determine the cadence range in which athletes have optimum performance using functional threshold power (FTP) tests applied at different cadence ranges. 26 female cyclists participated in the study. Participants were subjected to anthropometric measurements and strength and flexibility tests, and FTP tests were applied at different cadence ranges. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 22 and JASP programs, and anova and Pearson correlation tests were applied. The average age of the cyclists participating in the study was determined as 17.2±0.6 years, body weight as 57.4±8.0 kg, height as 164.2±6.0 cm, body fat percentage (BFP) as 24.4±6.3% and body mass index (BMI) as 21.4±2.4 kg/m2. The average leg strength of the cyclists was 55.4±14.2 kg, back strength as 46.3±7.9 kg, right hand grip strength (HGS) as 24.2±4.6 kg, left HGS as 23.5±3.9 kg and the average flexibility ability was found as 33.4±6.9 cm. The average FTP value was measured as 159±30 watts in the 60-70 cadence range, 150±17 watts in the 80-90 cadence range and 143±16 watts in the 100-110 cadence range. It was determined that the power values of the athletes in the 60-70 cadence range were statistically higher than the values in the 100-110 cadence range (FTP, average power, normalized power (NP) and relative power). A moderate positive correlation was found between the right LSQ and FTP (r=0.558), NP (r=0.541), average power (r=0.558) and maximum power (r=0.498) in the 100-110 cadence range, and a moderate positive correlation was found between the left LSQ and FTP (r=0.478), NP (r=0.443), average power (r=0.478) and maximum power (r=0.517) in the 100-110 cadence range. A moderate negative correlation was found between BMI in the 80-90 and 100-110 cadence range and relative power (r=-0.482/r=-0.562), and a moderate positive correlation was found between BMI in the 60-70 cadence range and FTP (r=0.513), NP (r=0.490), average power (r=0.513), and maximum power (r=0.507). As a result, it can be said that the power outputs of the FTP test applied in the low cadence range are higher than the power outputs applied in the high cadence range. At the same time, when the training zones of the athletes are examined individually, it can be concluded that the heart rate reaches the anaerobic threshold point in the high cadence range and the power reaches the anaerobic threshold point in the low cadence range at a higher value. Keywords: FTP, Cadence, Cycling, Performance, Power outputs