RACLET: the Ramp Above Critical Level Endurance Test to evaluate critical power in cycling.

purposeThis study introduces the Ramp Above Critical Level Endurance Test (RACLET), a novel method for evaluating critical power model parameters, and tests its reliability and concurrent validity.

methodsTwenty-three participants completed several RACLET and time-to-exhaustion tests (TTE). The RACLET is based on the proportionnality between the decline in maximal power (fatigability) and the work done above the critical power and involves a decreasing power ramp with intermittent maximal sprints, inducing moderate fatigue without exhaustion.

resultsThe test demonstrated reliability for the initial power ([Formula: see text]) and critical power ([Formula: see text]) (ICC > 0.97), and for the time constant (τ) (ICC = 0.70). The concurrent validity against TTE for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] showed systematic errors of 1.7% and 3.0%, respectively, and for τ and maximum work above the critical power, systematic errors were approximately 10%. The RACLET predictive capacity for time-to-exhaustion showed a systematic error of -0.6% and a random error of 10.3%.

conclusionThese results suggest that the RACLET is a reliable, valid, and efficient alternative to traditional critical power testing methods, offering comparable accuracy with a single test without inducing exhaustion. This approach could be particularly beneficial for populations in which exhaustive testing is challenging or impractical.