An analysis of the pacing strategy adopted by elite competitors in 2000 m rowing

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the pacing strategies adopted by elite rowers in championship 2000 m races. Methods: Split times were obtained for each boat in every heavyweight race of the Olympic Games in 2000 and World Championships in 2001and 2002, and the top 170 competitors in the British Indoor Rowing Championships in 2001 and 2002. Data were only included in subsequent analysis if there was good evidence that the athlete or crew completed the race in the fastest possible time. The remaining data were grouped to determine if there were different strategies adopted for on-water versus ergometer trials, ''winners'' versus ''losers'', and men versus women. Results: Of the 1612 on-water race profiles considered, 948 fitted the inclusion criteria. There were no differences in pacing profile between winners and losers, and men and women, although on-water and ergometry trials showed a competitively meaningful significant difference over the first 500 m sector. The average profile showed that rowers performed the first 500 m of the race faster than subsequent sectorsthat is, at a speed of 103.3% of the average speed for the whole race, with subsequent sectors rowed at 99.0%, 98.3%, and 99.7% of average speed for on-water rowing, and 101.5%, 99.8%, 99.0%, and 99.7% for ergometry. Conclusions: These data indicate that all athletes or crews adopted a similar fast start strategy regardless of finishing position or sex, although the exact pace profile was dependent on rowing mode. This strategy should be considered by participants in 2000 m rowing competitions.T he sport of rowing has received little scientific research on the effect of different pacing strategies on performance. This is perhaps surprising given the popular belief that pacing strategies have major effects on performance in most sports, and although there may be little physiological difference between elite competitors, athletes may win or lose depending on their pacing strategy. In competitive rowing, it is tactically and psychologically advantageous to gain placement at the front of the race by increasing effort at the start. This will allow the rowers, who look backwards down the course, to be able to monitor the position of other boats and react to any sudden advances from other competitors, and also allows them to avoid the wake of other boats. In some sports, there is some evidence that a fast start is the optimal strategy 1 3-5 whereas in other sports a slow start may be beneficial. 6 There is also evidence that variations in pace may be detrimental to performance.1 2 7 There has been only one previous investigation of pacing strategies in rowing 8 and no investigations of other sports with races of similar duration to rowing (6-8 minutes).The purpose of this study was to determine the pacing strategies adopted by elite rowers in championship 2000 m races. Separately for on-water and ergometer rowing modes, the competitors were sorted into the following groups for comparison: (a) men versus women; (b) ''winners'' (placing in the top half of the field)...

Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race: Performance, Pacing and Tactics Between 1890 and 2014

“…It is evident that all crews (n=228) employed a fast start pacing strategy, [6,10] with normal distribution tending to support an opening pace in the first sector of the race to the Mile Post ~10-15% faster than the average race pace. This is a strategy also common to shorter distance (2000m) Olympic multi-lane style rowing racing, [17][18] but is in contrast to most exercises lasting longer than 2 min. [11,23] There are many factors that have influenced performances over the history of the Boat Race.…”

“…[17] This is also the case in head to head racing, where being in the lead can additionally mean taking the preferential racing line from the opposition, while also giving the trailing crew disturbed (wake) water which disrupts the balance, aerodynamics and consequent pace of the boat. [8][9]18,28] This is in contrast to performance in other head-to-head competitive sports such as short-track speed skating where, in the final stages of the race, the trailing rider has a clear aerodynamic advantage of drafting in the slipstream of the preceding competitors. [15][16] As previously found when comparing cycling with skating, [29] pacing strategies might differ related to the specific nature and characteristics of the different sports.…”

“…[13][14] During the race, the athletes must respond to events dynamically as they unfold, 4 while still being aware of their physical capabilities, the demands of the event, their opponents' actions, [15][16] tactical considerations, and the level of physical discomfort they are prepared to endure. [6] In comparison to cycling and running, rowing has received comparatively little scientific research on pacing and performance [17][18][19][20] and the unique form of head to head competition of two teams directly racing against each other in the Boat Race has thus far remained unexplored. The present study will use a unique longitudinal dataset available on performance, pacing and tactical profiles of athletes competing in a head to head team competition, to provide insight on how performance, performance characteristics, pacing and tactics have developed throughout the late nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries.…”

“…[18,[19][20] Being of a large and muscular size would be particularly advantageous at the start of the race to achieve acceleration and rowers are estimated to utilise approximately 70% of their muscle 9 mass because all extremities and the trunk participate in the propulsion of the boat.…”

“…This is consistent with multi-lane rowing events where it is widely acknowledged that gaining placement at the front of the race is tactically and psychologically advantageous. [18] In multi-lane racing, a fast start enables the rowers to monitor the position of other boats, manipulate effort and respond to any alterations in pace from other competitors. [17] This is also the case in head to head racing, where being in the lead can additionally mean taking the preferential racing line from the opposition, while also giving the trailing crew disturbed (wake) water which disrupts the balance, aerodynamics and consequent pace of the boat.…”