Monitoring Physical and Cognitive Overload During a Training Camp in Professional Female Cyclists

PURPOSE: High training loads combined with other stressors can lead to performance decrements. The time needed to recover determines the diagnosis of (non)-functional overreaching or the overtraining syndrome. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of an 8-day (intensified) training camp of professional female cyclists on physical and cognitive performance.

METHODS: Nine subjects performed a 30-min time trial (TT), cognitive test and profile of mood state questionnaire before, during and after a training camp (49% increased training volume). Upon data collection, cyclists were classified as "overreached" (OR) or "adapted" (A) based on TT performance. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to detect changes in physical and cognitive parameters.

RESULTS: Five cyclists were OR, based on decreased mean power output (MPO) (-7.03 %) on day 8. Four cyclists were A (increased MPO: +1.72 %). MPO and HRmax were significantly different between A and OR. A significant slower reaction time (RT) (+3.35 %) was found in OR, whereas RT decreased (-4.59 %) in A. The change in MPO was negatively correlated with change in RT in the cognitive test (R2 = 0.52).

CONCLUSION: This study showed that the use of objective, inexpensive and easy-to-interpret physical and cognitive tests can facilitate the monitoring of training adaptations in professional female athletes.