Maximal power output during incremental cycling test is dependent on the curvature constant of the power-time relationship

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the maximal power output (P-max) during an incremental test was dependent on the curvature constant (W') of the power-time relationship. Thirty healthy male subjects (maximal oxygen uptake = 3.58 +/- 0.40 L.min(-1)) performed a ramp incremental cycling test to determine the maximal oxygen uptake and P-max, and 4 constant work rate tests to exhaustion to estimate 2 parameters from the modeling of the power-time relationship (i.e., critical power (CP) and W'). Afterwards, the participants were ranked according to their magnitude of W'. The median third was excluded to form a high W' group (HIGH, n = 10), and a low W' group (LOW, n = 10). Maximal oxygen uptake (3.84 +/- 0.50 vs. 3.49 +/- 0.37 L.min(-1)) and CP (213 +/- 22 vs. 200 +/- 29 W) were not significantly different between HIGH and LOW, respectively. However, P-max was significantly greater for the HIGH (337 +/- 23 W) than for the LOW (299 +/- 40 W). Thus, in physically active individuals with similar aerobic parameters, W' influences the Pmax during incremental testing.