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In addition to the high level of skill required to be a professional cyclist, to be successful you need, among other things, good endurance (for road) and good power (for track), and be mentally tough! However, which of these are most important?

Below is a discussion about the fitness requirements for cycling, which can help with developing training programs for this sport, and for interpreting fitness testing results and determining the relative strengths and weaknesses of a cyclist.

You Need Endurance

We have a poll about the component of fitness most important for success in Road Cycling. We asked about road cycling only, as the physical demands for track and road cycling are quite different. Out of the options of Body Size and Composition, Muscle Strength, Muscular Endurance, Power, Speed / Quickness, Agility, Flexibility, Balance and Coordination, and Cardiovascular Endurance, the factors which are considered most important by the readers of this site are muscular and cardiovascular (aerobic) endurance. You can add your vote too.

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You Need to be Switched On

In a similar poll to above, we have asked people to rate the 12 factors of success for sports. Visitors to this site have rated each of these factors for the sport of road cycling, and the most important according to them are some of the psychological factors, tactics and coping with pressure. Can you trust these results? Aerobic endurance is clearly the primary physical capacity needed for success in road cycling, but not all out readers think so! You can also add your ratings of Which Factors Make Successful Road Cyclists, and see the latest results.

Most Important Factors for Success in Order of Importance (data from 2018)

1. Analytic & Tactical Ability, Coping with Pressure Situations.
2. Strength & Power, Balance & Coordination.
3. Skill and Technique.
4. Body Size and Composition, Aerobic Endurance, Speed / Quickness, Flexibility, Agility, Reaction Time, Motivation & Self Confidence.

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Related Pages

• Fitness for Cycling
• Top Exercises to Help Cyclists Ride Faster — exercises to help increase your power, strength, and therefore your speed on your bike.
• Anthropometry of the Tour de France Winners
• Cycling Polls
• Cycling Fitness Tests