The lactate minimum velocity (LMV) represents the equilibrium point between blood lactate (lac) production and removal. With the purpose of analyzing the validity of critical velocity (CV) as a non-invasive method to estimate the LMV on outdoor cycling, 15 cyclists (67.9 ± 5.7 kg; 1.70 ± 0.1 m; 26.7 ± 4.2 years) performed all-out tests on distances of 2, 4 and 6 km on velodrome. The CV was identified by distance-time model from combinations of 2 and 4 km (CV2/4), 2 and 6 km (CV2/6), 4 and 6 km (CV4/6) and 2, 4 and 6 km (CV2/4/6). The LMV was identified during 6 x 2 km incremental bouts after a latic acidosis induced by the all-out 2 km. The lower lac during test identified the LMV visually (LMVv) and by applying a polynomial function (LMVp). No differences were observed between LMVv (33.3 ± 2.5 km.h¹) and LMVp (33.1 ± 2.6 km.h¹). Apart from CV4/6 (34.6 ± 3.5 km.h¹), the values of CV2/4 (38.0 ± 2.2 km.h¹), CV2/6 (36.1 ± 2.4 km.h¹) and CV2/4/6 (36.1 ± 2.5 km.h¹) differed from LMVp and LMVv (P < 0,001). The authors concluded that, besides being ~1 km/h above the LMV, the CV determined through predictive series of longer duration (4 and 6 km approximately 6 and 10 min) did not differ statistically from LMV and presented a high correlation and agreement to each other. However, it is necessary to investigate whether the CV reflects the balance between lac production and removal during long-term exercise on outdoor cycling.
Anaerobic threshold; Indirect methods; Predictive bouts; Maximal lactate steady state
