Whole Athlete p/b DNA Team News: The Quarq Factor Phase Two

In the last Quarq Factor Installment, we introduced the project and analyzed power for the first two rounds of the ProXCT / US Cup Series. Now that the dust has settled on the team's US Spring race campaign, we can examine more closely what it takes to compete in International events in Europe.

The Quarq Factor Criteria

At Whole Athlete, we use a standard called Maximal Steady State (MSS), a real-world performance threshold of 20-30 minute peak power and heart rate which reflect readily measurable and repeatable criteria confirmed with either a simple field test or through the validated MSS testing protocol used at the Whole Athlete Performance Center.

During a mountain bike race, a better representation of the highly variable workload over time is normalized power since it represents the physiological demands by estimating the power that could have been maintained had it been constant. For each rider, normalized power as a percentage of their individual MSS gives the value relative meaning since each person's specific power levels can be quite different. We will keep each rider's actual power data confidential, yet still provide a representation that is meaningful and informative.

The Euro Effect

Four of our Junior 17/18 riders had the opportunity to race in Austria and Germany this past month, competing in the highest level Junior Series UCI races. By gathering power data throughout, we found that the depth of the fields, high level of competition, and nature of the courses all combined to determine power demands.

The most common factor in contrast to XC races in the US is that high level European XC races require a higher initial output (1 to 2 min peak power) to be competitive with the fastest riders, specifically on the start loop (Table 1). But much like the various US courses, the relative punchiness or steadiness of the climbs dictates much of the distribution of power.

The most effective strategy was being able to achieve a good position on the start loop without going out too hard, then maintain consistent and strong laps throughout, especially the final lap.

At the Haiming, Austria event, the course featured many steep, punchy climbs with little place to recover, whereas in Heubach, Germany the course was basically a single stair-step climb and descent each lap. The climbing profile differences were apparent in time in ranges around and above Maximal Steady State (MSS) power. A significantly larger amount of time spent at a higher supra-threshold (>140% MSS power) range on the punchy Haiming course, while in Heubach the time between 100-140% of MSS was greater given the more sustained climb (Table 2).

Tables 3-6 compare the time spent at MSS and above for each rider among all four US and European Spring Junior UCI events.

Table 1: Haiming, Austria & Heubach, Germany Junior UCI Series - Men and Women

Normalized Power as Percentage of Maximal Steady State

	Haiming, Austria
	Start Lap	Lap 1	Lap 2	Lap 3	Lap 4	Lap 5	Race Avg
Athlete 1	114%	99%	91%	90%	88%	90%	94%
Athlete 2	122%	109%	90%	88%	85%	96%	94%
Athlete 3	105%	91%	76%	76%	76%	N/A	83%
Athlete 4	129%	94%	85%	75%	78%	N/A	86%
	Heubach, Germany
Athlete 1	122%	95%	95%	94%	97%	N/A	103%
Athlete 2	113%	109%	94%	93%	100%	N/A	99%
Athlete 3	N/A	83%	78%	80%	N/A	N/A	80%
Athlete 4	N/A	106%	93%	98%	N/A	N/A	99%

Table 2: Haiming, Austria & Heubach, Germany Junior UCI Series - Men and Women