TRANSITIONS IN TRIATHLONS NEED TO BE PRACTICED

Hue, O., Le Gallais, D., Boussana, A., Chollet, D., Prefaut, C. (1999). Ventilatory responses during experimental cycle-run transition in triathletes. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 31, 1422-1428.

It was found that the cycling-run sequence induced specific alterations in pulmonary function that may be associated with respiratory muscle fatigue and/or exercise-induced hypoexmia. The greater ventilatory response during the first minute of running after cycling was due to the specificity of cycling. This emphasizes the need for triathletes to practice multi-trial training to stimulate physical responses experienced during the swim-cycle and cycle-run transitions.

Implication. Triathletes have to practice modality exchanges incurred in an event to be better prepared for competitions.

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