Mechanical demands and pacing profile adopted by elite mountain bikers during different cross-country events

Rhai André Arriel; Anderson Meireles; Hiago Leandro Rodrigues  Souza; Roberto Carlos De Matos  Leite; Moacir Marocolo

doi:10.4025/jphyseduc.v34i1.3437

Authors

Rhai André Arriel Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora-MG, Brazil Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3605-9667
Anderson Meireles Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora-MG, Brazil Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9567-3301
Hiago Leandro Rodrigues Souza Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora-MG, Brazil Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2488-7502
Roberto Carlos De Matos Leite Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora-MG, Brazil Author https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3069-6055
Moacir Marocolo Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora-MG, Brazil Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7715-2534

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4025/jphyseduc.v34i1.3437

Keywords:

Power output, Intensity, Cadence, Cross-country Olympic, Cross-country short track

Abstract

Different competitive environments appears to affect the physical demands during the sports competitions. Thus, the aim of this study was to report the mechanical demand and pacing behaviour of twelve male elite mountain bikers on cross-country short track (XCC) and cross-country Olympic (XCO). During both competition, total race time, speed, power output (PO) and cadence (CA) were recorded. As the race time in the XCC is shorter (21.0 ± 0.5 vs 84.0 ± 3.0 min; p<0.01), the average speed (26.6 ± 0.6 vs 17.8 ± 0.6 km/h; p<0.01), PO (365.0 ± 26.7 vs 301.0 ± 26.2 watts; p<0.01) and CA (81.2 ± 4.7 vs 77.4 ± 4.3 revâˆ™minâˆ’1; p=0.01) were higher than the XCO. While a variable pacing was adopted during XCC, a positive profile was adopted in XCO. In addition, athletes adopted a more conservative starting pace during XCC (below average race speed) but a faster start during XCO (above average race speed). These findings demonstrated that mechanical parameters and pacing profile adopted by cyclists are different between XCC and XCO. Therefore, mountain bikers and coaches must develop specific strategy and training methods in order to obtain success in each competition.