Evolution of Summated Hazard Score Versus Starting Strategy
Abstract
PURPOSE: During competitive events, pacing strategies are dependent upon how an
athlete feels at a specific moment and the distance of the race remaining, the Hazard
Score (HS). HS has been shown to provide a measure of how likely an individual is to
increase or decrease their power output (PO) at any point during an event. The purpose of
this research was to manipulate different starting strategies in order to establish whether
the summated HS (SHS), as opposed to the momentary HS, will improve prediction of
performance during a middle-distance cycling simulated competition. METHODS:
Seven subjects performed two practice 10-km cycling time trials (TT) followed by three,
10-km TT with imposed starting (first 3-km) PO (±5% of mean PO during second
practice trial and self-paced). RESULTS: TT time for fast, self-paced and slow starts and
mean PO were similar (p > 0.05). There was a significant interaction between each
variable (PO, RPE, lactate, HR, HS, and SHS) and distance. The evolution of HS
reflected the imposed starting strategy, with a reduction in PO following a fast- start,
increased PO following a slow-start with similar HS during the last part of all TT.
CONCLUSION: The SHS was higher with a fast start, indicating greater overall effort,
with limited time advantage.
Subject
Kinesiology
Exercise -- Physiological aspects
Exercise tests