The individual pursuit is an event that favors specialists with superior aerobic fitness, high anaerobic capacity, excellent aerodynamics, and technical skills. It requires balancing physical factors like aerodynamic drag, kinetic energy, rolling resistance, and physiological factors like aerobic power, anaerobic capacity, and neuromuscular power. World class pursuiters have high maximal aerobic power and anaerobic capacity. Their performance depends on optimizing factors like aerodynamic drag, mass, pacing strategy. Proper training focuses on intensities to improve various physiological adaptations and includes pursuit-specific sessions to optimize technical skills.

1. The individual pursuit: demands
and preparation
Andrew R. Coggan, Ph.D.

2. The individual pursuit:
a deceptively simple event favoring specialists
who possess superior aerobic fitness coupled with
a high anaerobic capacity, excellent aerodynamics,
and specific technical skills.

3. Aerodynamic drag
ec
T
ni
h
al
c
Start
Line
Anaerobic capacity
Aerobic power
Fa
ct
o
Pacing
Faster or Slower
rs
Faster
i cal
log
Phy
sio
Phy
si c
Inertia/kinetic energy
Neuromuscular power
tors
Fac
Rolling resistance/
chain friction
tors
Fac
Faster
al
The pursuit performance ‘teeter-totter’

4. Physical factors

5. Aerodynamic drag
ec
T
ni
h
al
c
Start
Line
Anaerobic capacity
Aerobic power
Fa
ct
o
Pacing
Faster or Slower
rs
Faster
i cal
log
Phy
sio
Phy
si c
Inertia/kinetic energy
Neuromuscular power
tors
Fac
Rolling resistance/
chain friction
tors
Fac
Faster
al
The pursuit performance ‘teeter-totter’

6. Mathematical model of the physics of cycling
PTOT = (PAT + PKE + PRR + PWB + PPE)/Ec
PTOT = (0.5ρVa2Vg(CdA + Fw) + 0.5(mt + I/r2)(Vgf2 - Vgi2)/(tf - ti) + VgCrrmtgCOS(TAN1
(Gr)) + Vg(0.091+0.0087Vg) + VgmtgSIN(TAN-1(Gr)))/Ec
Where:
PTOT = total power required (W)
PAT = power required to overcome total aerodynamic drag (W)
PKE = power required to change kinetic energy (W)
PRR = power required to overcome rolling resistance (W)
PWB = power required to overcome drag of wheel bearings (W)
PPE = power required to change potential energy (W)
ρ = air density (kg/m3)
Va = air velocity (relative to direction of travel) (m/s)
Vg = ground velocity (m/s)
Cd = coefficient of drag (dependent on wind direction) (unitless)
A = frontal area of bike+rider system (m2)
FW = wheel rotation factor (expressed as incremental frontal area) (m2)
mt= total mass of bike+rider system (kg)
I = moment of inertia of wheels (kgm2)
r = outside radius of tire (m)
Vgf = final ground velocity (m/s)
Vgi = initial ground velocity (m/s)
tf = final time (s)
ti = initial (s)
Crr = coefficient of rolling resistance (unitless)
g = acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2)
Gr = road gradient (unitless)
Ec = efficiency of chain drive system (unitless)
(Martin, Milliken, Cobb, McFadden, and Coggan. J Appl Biomech 14:276-291, 1998)

7. Validation of model
under steady-state conditions
(Martin, Milliken, Cobb, McFadden, and Coggan. J Appl Biomech 14:276-291, 1998)

8. Validation of model
under non-steady-state conditions
Measured speed
Model-predicted speed
Measured power
(Martin, Gardner, Barras, and Martin, unpublished observations)

9. Nominal characteristics of world class pursuiters
used in modeling
Male
Female
• Height = 180 cm
• Weight = 75 kg
• CdA = 0.209 m2
• Height = 170 cm
• Weight = 65 kg
• CdA = 0.197 m2
• Pursuit power = 540 W
• 4 km time = 4 min 25 s
• Pursuit power = 415 W
• 3 km time = 3 min 35 s
• Weight of bicycle, etc. = 9.0 kg
• CRR = 0.002 (i.e., wood track)
• Air density = 1.185 g/L

10. Absolute and relative power requirements
of world class pursuit performance
Aerodynamic drag
Kinetic energy
Rolling resistance
Drivetrain friction
600
2%
5%
7%
500
2%
5%
9%
Power (W)
400
300
86%
200
84%
100
0
Male (4 km)
Female (3 km)

11. Time savings resulting from 5% changes in:
Factor
4 km
3 km
Efficiency of chain
(Ec)
0.1 s (0.05%)
0.1 s (0.05%)
Rolling resistance
(CRR)
0.2 s (0.1%)
0.2 s (0.1%)
0.6 s (0.3%)
0.6 s (0.3%)
4.1 s (1.5% )
3.1 s (1.4% )
Total mass
(mt)
Aerodynamic drag
(CdA)

12. Aerodynamics: the devil is in the details!

13. Field testing using a powermeter to determine
aerodynamic drag characteristics (CdA)
Westbound
400
Eastbound
Power (W)
300
line of best fit
3
Y = 3.67X + 0.1344X
2
R = 0.998
200
CdA = 0.226 +/- 0.004 m
100
2
CRR = 0.0046 +/- 0.0003
0
0
5
10
Speed (m/s)
15

14. Technical factors

15. Aerodynamic drag
ec
T
ni
h
al
c
Start
Line
Anaerobic capacity
Aerobic power
Fa
ct
o
Pacing
Faster or Slower
rs
Faster
i cal
log
Phy
sio
Phy
si c
Inertia/kinetic energy
Neuromuscular power
tors
Fac
Rolling resistance/
chain friction
tors
Fac
Faster
al
The pursuit performance ‘teeter-totter’

16. Time savings resulting from improvements in:
Factor
4 km
3 km
Starting technique
(negligible)
(negligible)
Path on track (20 cm
up from black line)
1.3 s (0.5%)
1.1 s (0.5%)
Pacing strategy
(potentially large)
(potentially large)

17. Effect of pacing on 3 km pursuit performance
2005 World Championships - 3 km pursuit
86
Time (seconds)
84
82
80
78
76
74
72
70
1
2
Kilometer split
3

18. Effect of pacing on 3 km pursuit performance
when overall average power is equivalent
Qualifying power
Final power
Qualifying speed
Final speed
1000
16
Time = 3:51.4
900
800
Time = 3:53.4
600
500
Average = 411 W
400
10
8
6
300
Average = 408 W
200
4
100
2
0
0
0
30
60
90
120
150
Time (seconds)
180
210
240
Speed (m/s)
12
700
Power (W)
14

19. Coggan’s #1 rule of pursuiting:
Don’t go out too hard!
Don’t go out too hard!
Don’t go out too hard!
Don’t go out too hard!

20. Physiological factors

21. Aerodynamic drag
ec
T
ni
h
al
c
Start
Line
Anaerobic capacity
Aerobic power
Fa
ct
o
Pacing
Faster or Slower
rs
Faster
i cal
log
Phy
sio
Phy
si c
Inertia/kinetic energy
Neuromuscular power
tors
Fac
Rolling resistance/
chain friction
tors
Fac
Faster
al
The pursuit performance ‘teeter-totter’

22. The individual pursuit: a predominantly aerobic event
4 km
3 km

23. Energy demands expressed in O2 equivalents

24. Power-VO2 relationship (efficiency)
5
VO2 (L/min)
4
3
Efficiency = 24.1%
2
1
0
0
50
100
150
200
Power (W)
250
300
350
400

25. Time savings resulting from 5% changes in:
Factor
4 km
3 km
Neuromuscular
(anaerobic) power
0.3 s (0.1%)
0.2 s (0.1%)
Anaerobic capacity
0.9 s (0.3%)
0.7 s (0.3%)
Aerobic power
3.8 s (1.4%)
3.0 s (1.4%)

26. Role of VO2max, anaerobic capacity (MAOD) and
aerodynamic drag characteristics (C dA) in determining
3 km pursuit performance
Rider A
Rider A
900
VO2max = 4.47 L/min
800
Total
700
Efficiency = 24.1%
Est. MAOD = 3.36 L
Ave. power = 397 W
600
Power (W)
Rider B
CdA = 0.214 m2
500
3 km time = 3:47.3
400
20%
300
200
80%
Maximal aerobic
100
0
0
30
60
90
120
150
Time (seconds)
180
210
240

27. Role of VO2max, anaerobic capacity (MAOD) and
aerodynamic drag characteristics (C dA) in determining
3 km pursuit performance
Rider A
Rider A
900
Total
700
Est. MAOD = 3.36 L
600
Power (W)
3 km time = 3:47.3
400
20%
300
200
Total
700
CdA = 0.214 m2
500
VO2max = 4.20 L/min
800
G.E. = 24.1%
Ave. power = 397 W
600
Power (W)
900
VO2max = 4.47 L/min
800
Rider B
Rider B
CdA = 0.236 m2
500
3 km time = 3:49.7
400
28%
200
Maximal aerobic
100
Est. MAOD = 5.27 L
Ave. power = 411 W
300
80%
Efficiency = 23.9%
72%
100
0
Maximal aerobic
0
0
30
60
90
120
150
Time (seconds)
180
210
240
0
30
60
90
120
150
Time (seconds)
180
210
240

28. Preparation

29. Expected physiological adaptations
as a function of training intensity
Level →
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Active
recovery
Endurance
Tempo or
fartlek
Lactate
threshold
VO2max
Anaerobic
capacity
Neuromuscular
power
<55%
56-75%
76-90%
91-105%
106-120%
121-150%
>151%
↑ Muscle
enzymes
++
+++
++++
++
+
↑ Lactate
threshold
++
+++
++++
++
+
↑ Capillaries
+
++
+++
++++
+
↑ Plasma volume
+
++
+++
++++
+
↑ Stroke volume
& maximal
cardiac output
+
++
+++
++++
+
↑ VO2max
+
++
+++
++++
+
+
+++
+
+
+++
Power ( % of
maximal steady
state)
↑ Anaerobic
capacity (MAOD)
↑ Neuromuscular
power

30. Proposed relationship between training intensity and
overall aerobic training effect
100
L2
L1
L4
L3
L5
L6
90
Arbitrary units
80
Physiological strain
Overall training effect
(increase in aerobic fitness)
70
60
Max. volume
50
40
30
20
10
0
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
Exercise intensity (% of maximal steady state power)
140
150

31. Training volume (hours/month)
Pursuit-specific
VO2max focus
R&R
training
(road racing season)
LT focus
(off-season “build”)
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Month
te
m
be
r
us
t
Se
p
Au
g
ly
Ju
ne
Ju
ay
M
Ap
ril
ar
ch
M
y
br
ua
r
ar
y
Fe
em
Ja
nu
be
r
r
D
ec
No
v
em
be
er
0
O
ct
ob
Training volume (h/mo)
100

32. Typical week during LT focus
Day
Training
Monday
1 h 30 min recovery ride
Tuesday
2 h w/ 2 x 20 min @ TT effort
Wednesday
2 h 30 min group ride at moderate intensity
Thursday
2 h w/ 2 x 20 min @ TT effort
Friday
1 h 30 min recovery ride
Saturday
4 h hard group ride
Sunday
3 h 15 min group ride at moderate intensity

33. Typical week during VO2max focus
Day
Training
Monday
1 h 15 min recovery ride
Tuesday
1 h 30 min w/ 6 x 5 min at 90+% of VO2max
Wednesday
2 h at moderate intensity
Thursday
1 h 30 min w/ 6 x 5 min at 90+% of VO2max
Friday
1 h 15 h recovery ride
Saturday
Race or tempo ride
Sunday
Race or hard group ride

34. Typical week during pursuit-specific training
Day
Training
Monday
1 h 30 min w/ 4 x 500 m flying and 10 standing starts
Tuesday
AM: 1 h 30 min w/ 4 x 4 km flying in team pursuit
formation
PM: 1 h 45 min recovery ride (road)
Wednesday
AM: 1 h w/ 1 x 333.3 m standing plus 3 x 1 km
standing
PM: 2 h recovery ride (road)
Thursday
AM: 1 h 30 min w/ 4 x 4 km flying in team pursuit
formation
PM: 30 min recovery ride (rollers)
Friday
AM: 2 h recovery ride (road)
PM: 1 h 45 min track racing session (keirin heat,
keirn final, prime race, points race)
Saturday
1 h 30 min w/ 3 x 1 km flying and 4 x 500 m flying
Sunday
Off

35. Use of powermeter data to manage training and plan
peak performance
Chronic training load
Training stess balance
100
80
60
40
20
0
-20
-40
-60
-80
-100
200
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
Date
15
9/
18
8/
21
7/
23
6/
26
5/
28
4/
3
3/
31
3
2/
3/
6
1/
12
/9
1
11
/1
4
0
10
/1
CTL or ATL (TSS/d)
180
TSB (TSS/d)
Acute training load

38. A happy ending!