Exercise intensity during an 8-day mountain bike marathon race

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine the exercise intensity of a mountain bike (MTB) marathon race lasting 8 days. Seven amateur MTBers (age 33.6 +/- 3.0 years, height 1.67 +/- 0.5 m, body mass 58.4 +/- 9.9 kg) completing the Transalp Challenge 2004 were involved in the study. Before the race subjects completed a maximal incremental cycling test to determine four intensity zones based on the heart rate (HR) corresponding to fixed blood lactate thresholds (2, 4 and 6 mmol/L). The exercise intensity during the Transalp Challenge 2004 was measured by using HR short telemetry systems. Mean HR was 85.4% of maximal HR during the race or 79.2% of laboratory determined maximum. Thirty-six percent of total race time was spent in the high and very-high intensity zones. The study showed that this MTB stage race is physiologically very demanding, heavily involving both the aerobic and anaerobic energy system.

Progression of changes in left ventricular function during four days of simulated multi-stage cycling

“…While EF was maintained on day 3 and 4 post-exercise, the reduced beta-adrenergic responsiveness may have persisted on these days as noted by the reduced chronotropic response observed during exercise on day 4 where the average and maximum heart rate was reduced despite the equal exercise intensity. Such decreases in average and maximum heart rate have been previously observed in cyclists competing in multi-stage events (Lucía et al 2003;Wirnitzer and Konexl 2008) and a 10 bpm decrease in average heart rate was also observed on day 3 compared to day 1 of the 3-day multistage running study of Middleton et al (2007).…”

“…Multi-day cycling events, where participants perform prolonged strenuous exercise bouts consecutively for typically 3-9 days or more, are becoming increasingly popular and participation is not only restricted to professional athletes (for example, see Wirnitzer and Konexl 2008). Although cardiac function is often restored within 24 h of a single challenging endurance event (Haykowsky et al 2001;Scott et al 2007;Shave et al 2004a), it is important to assess whether cardiac function can be similarly restored each day after repeated exercise bouts over a number of consecutive days.…”

Combined carbohydrate–protein supplementation improves competitive endurance exercise performance in the heat

“…This competition is an annual multi-day event during which participants are required to cross the Central Alps in eight consecutive days/stages, with each stage consisting of one cross-country marathon (Table 2). It is for this reason that the TransAlp Challenge is considered to be one of the most difficult cross-country marathon races in the world (Wirnitzer and Kornexl 2008). Ambient temperature and relative humidity at the end of each race stage averaged 33°C (range 29-40°C) and 42% (range 29-51%), respectively.…”

A Comparison of Ultra-Endurance Cyclists in a Qualifying Ultra-Cycling Race for Paris-Brest-Paris and Race across America—Swiss Cycling Marathon

“…Their findings include differences among cyclists and changes in many variables related to the extreme race distances and training regimens, such as in body mass (Bircher, Enggist, Jehle, & Knechtle, 2006;Knechtle, Enggist, & Jehle, 2005;Knechtle, Wirth, Knechtle, & Rosemann, 2009a), intensity and energy turnover (Bircher, et al, 2006;Francescato & Di Prampero, 2002;Knechtle, et al, 2005;Reher, Hellemans, Rolleston, Rush, Miller, 2009;Wirnitzer & Kornexl, 2008), and nutrition (Ebert, Martin, Stephens, McDonald, & Withers, 2007;Martin, Martin, Collier, & Burke, 2002). Other studies have tested associations between race performance measures and anthropometric and training variables (Knechtle & Rosemann, 2009;Knechtle, Knechtle, Rosemann, 2009b;Knechtle, Wirth, Knechtle, & Rosemann, 2009c).…”