Muscular fatigue can be defined as functional inability to maintain a desired force output. During cycling competition, especially road races, cyclists are required to exercise for extended duration at high intensities. These features often result in fatigue, which can be associated with metabolic mechanisms and factors affecting both muscles (peripheral fatigue) and the central nervous system (central fatigue). The aim of this study is to review aspects related to alterations in the pedaling technique and electrical activation of the muscles during a fatiguing exercise bout. Some of these alterations have been reported in the literature and can reflect on the (1) magnitude, direction, and sign of the forces applied on the pedal; (2) muscle activation pattern; (3) force generation; (4) and consequent performance of the cyclist. However, few studies have associated fatigue with pedal forces and muscle activation. The results of the reviewed studies have shown that cyclists failed to maintain a preset force level, alteration in the pedaling technique, and changes on the muscle activation pattern during cycling under fatigue condition.
fatigue; biomechanics; performance; cycling