Ed Coyle reconsiders his data on Lance

[CoachFergie]

Reconsideration of a Tour de France Cyclist

Articles in PresS. J Appl Physiol (March 14, 2013).

Edward F. Coyle

Unclear as to how erythropoietin affected the performance.

Since 2005 several reports showing an improvement in mechanical efficiency in athletes. Paula Radcliff 15% increase in economy from 1992 to 2003 (1). Santalla (2) showed an increase in efficiency in racing cyclists.

Coyle speculates that the erythropoietin and other doping practices contributed to the training process that saw Armstrong improve his mechanical efficiency over time.

1. Jones AM. The physiology of the world record holder for the women’s marathon. Inter. J. Sports Sct. & Coaching. 1: 101-116, 2006.

2. Santalla A, Naranjo J, Terrados N. Muscle efficiency improves over time in
world-class cyclists. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 41: 1096–1101, 2009.

 

[FrankDay]

Reconsideration of a Tour de France Cyclist

Articles in PresS. J Appl Physiol (March 14, 2013).

Edward F. Coyle

Unclear as to how erythropoietin affected the performance.

Since 2005 several reports showing an improvement in mechanical efficiency in athletes. Paula Radcliff 15% increase in economy from 1992 to 2003 (1). Santalla (2) showed an increase in efficiency in racing cyclists.

Coyle speculates that the erythropoietin and other doping practices contributed to the training process that saw Armstrong improve his mechanical efficiency over time.

1. Jones AM. The physiology of the world record holder for the women’s marathon. Inter. J. Sports Sct. & Coaching. 1: 101-116, 2006.

2. Santalla A, Naranjo J, Terrados N. Muscle efficiency improves over time in
world-class cyclists. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 41: 1096–1101, 2009.

This is nothing more than grasping at straws (and trying to diffuse the controversy surrounding his prior paper) to explain a controversial finding because there is no proposed mechanism as to how EPO could affect economy/efficiency even being speculated here. Unless one can describe how EPO can affect mitochondrial efficiency or Actin-myosin contractile efficiency simply having more red cells cannot affect exercise efficiency. At least he hasn't admitted there was a problem with his data, so it still stands.

One would think that if EPO had an effect on efficiency that one would have more than one or two examples from the, probably, thousands of athletes who have been tested while taking this drug in the last 15 years. But, with his now speculating to this possibility (without a shred of evidence that a mechanism might exist other than an unexplained change has occurred) it would seem that now that any athlete who demonstrates an improved efficiency and a good record will be seen as doping. Guilty by association I guess.

I guess anything is possible but it seems to me that this explanation to explain this data is as close to "unlikely" as possible.

 

[Aapjes]

Proposed headline: Incompetent scientist is incompetent.

 

[CoachFergie]

Or was it the erg?

http://jap.physiology.org/content/99/4/1628.long

 

[CoachFergie]

Study showing that live high train low methodology can improve cycling efficiency.

Gore 2001

 

[CoachFergie]

But then two other studies that didn't find a difference (thanks Andy C), one where Gore was a researcher on the study...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18048583

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19927018

 

[durianrider]

Paula Radcliffe set the womens WR that still holds today and she did it via 'mechanical efficiency'.

mmkay.

 

[CoachFergie]

Paula Radcliffe set the womens WR that still holds today and she did it via 'mechanical efficiency'.

mmkay.

I would suggest she did by running faster than any other women in history. Prof Andrew Jones who has been testing her since she was a junior gave a lecture in Christchurch and said that over the years her VO2max has changed little but her running speed at VO2max and lactate threshold has increased and her measured economy improved substantially.

 

[FrankDay]

I would suggest she did by running faster than any other women in history. Prof Andrew Jones who has been testing her since she was a junior gave a lecture in Christchurch and said that over the years her VO2max has changed little but her running speed at VO2max and lactate threshold has increased and her measured economy improved substantially.

I was at a lecture several years back where her coach, Joe Vigil, was giving a talk. The one thing I remember distinctly was his showing a picture of her crossing the finish line at the Olympics and commenting on how high her knees were still after 26 miles. Improving running economy (especially in the well trained) really is an improving running form thing, IMHO.

 

[CoachFergie]

I was at a lecture several years back where her coach, Joe Vigil, was giving a talk. The one thing I remember distinctly was his showing a picture of her crossing the finish line at the Olympics and commenting on how high her knees were still after 26 miles. Improving running economy (especially in the well trained) really is an improving running form thing, IMHO.

This isn't a running forum and I'm not a running coach but if this was the case I'm sure there would be some actual data.

Just for those of us who don't settle for anecdotes or IMHO.

 

[justanotheradam]

Did not know there is a co-relation between cycling and running?