Participating In The Race Across AMerica In A Team Of Eight Cyclists: Do Not Neglect Crew Preparation

Figures & data

Figure 1 Summary of all the measures that were performed in cyclists and crew groups during the study.

Figure 2 Evolution of positive elevation change (m) (represented by black bar histogram) and maximal temperature (°C) (represented by dashed curve) by section during the race. Left axis represents bar and right grey zones represent the two assessment times during the RAAM.

Table 1 Anthropometric Parameters

	Pre	Mid	End	Post	Effect Size Pre-Mid	Effect Size Mid-End	Effect Size End-Post	Effect Size Pre-Post
Body weight, kg
Cyclists	69.5 ± 10.7	70.0 ± 11.8	70.6 ± 11.9	69.4 ± 10.8	0.05	0.06	0.11	0.01
Crew	73.4 ± 9.5	72.9 ± 9.0	72.7 ± 9.1	72.5 ± 9.4	0.06	0.02	0.02	0.10
Body fat, %
Cyclists	14.0 ± 6.1	13.7 ± 5.3	12.9 ± 6.4	14.0 ± 6.6	0.06	0.15	0.18	0.00
Crew	10.5 ± 3.2	8.0 ± 3.0*^$	8.6 ± 2.8	9.0 ± 3.4	0.88 (large)	0.23 (small)	0.14	0.50 (medium)
Total body water, %
Cyclists	63.4 ± 4.4	63.5 ± 3.5	65.1 ± 5.9	63.6 ± 4.8	0.03	0.36 (small)	0.30 (small)	0.05
Crew	65.1 ± 3.0	67.6 ± 3.4*	66.9 ± 3.3	66.5 ± 3.9	0.85 (large)	0.23 (small)	0.12	0.44 (small)

Notes: *p < 0.05 for difference with Pre; ^$p < 0.05 for difference with Cyclists. Data are presented as mean ± SD.

Figure 3 Maximal isometric voluntary quadriceps strength at pre, mid and end in cyclists and crew groups. *p < 0.05 for difference with Pre; ^†p < 0.05 for difference with cyclists pre-relay. Data are presented as mean ± SE.

Figure 4 General fatigue at each assessment time in cyclists and crew groups. *p < 0.05 for difference with pre; ^#p < 0.05 for difference with post. Data are presented as mean ± SE.

Table 2 Sleep Parameters

	Pre	Mid	End	Post	Effect Size Pre-Mid	Effect Size Mid-End	Effect Size End-Post	Effect Size Pre-Post
Sleep duration per day, h
Cyclists	7.2 ± 1.0	4.8 ± 1.6*	5.6 ± 1.5	7.0 ± 1.5^#	1.94 (very large)	0.56 (medium)	1.01 (large)	0.17
Crew	7.3 ± 0.8	4.5 ± 1.2*	5.7 ± 0.9	8.0 ± 1.2^#	2.97 (very large)	1.22 (large)	2.34 (very large)	0.74 (medium)
Quality of sleep, cm
Cyclists	7.6 ± 2.7	4.1 ± 2.5*	7.3 ± 2.9	8.3 ± 2.0^#	1.45 (very large)	1.28 (large)	0.43 (small)	0.32 (small)
Crew	7.9 ± 1.2	6.6 ± 2.4^$	7.3 ± 1.8	8.6 ± 1.3	0.74 (medium)	0.36 (small)	0.89 (large)	0.60 (medium)

Notes: *p < 0.05 for difference with Pre; ^#p < 0.05 for difference with Mid; ^$p < 0.05 for difference with Cyclists. Data are presented as mean ± SD.

Table 3 Profile Of Mood State

	Pre	Mid	End	Post	Effect Size Pre-Mid	Effect Size Mid-End	Effect Size End-Post	Effect Size Pre-Post
Tension
Cyclists	7.4 ± 3.7	4.3 ± 2.9	3.6 ± 1.7	3.6 ± 1.5*	1.01 (large)	0.32 (small)	0.00	1.45 (very large)
Crew	6.4 ± 4.0	4.9 ± 3.2	6.3 ± 3.4	4.7 ± 2.1	0.45 (small)	0.46 (small)	0.61 (medium)	0.58 (medium)
Depression
Cyclists	2.4 ± 2.4	2.7 ± 4.4	1.0 ± 2.2	2.0 ± 3.2	0.09	0.53 (medium)	0.39 (small)	0.15
Crew	1.0 ± 2.2	1.4 ± 2.8	1.7 ± 1.7	0.9 ± 1.6	0.17	0.14	0.52 (medium)	0.06
Anger
Cyclists	5.9 ± 4.0	6.9 ± 5.5	4.7 ± 1.7	5.9 ± 4.2	0.23 (small)	0.58 (medium)	0.41 (small)	0.00
Crew	3.4 ± 3.7	8.3 ± 6.3*	6.4 ± 3.9	4.9 ± 4.9	1.02 (large)	0.39 (small)	0.37 (small)	0.37 (small)
Vigor
Cyclists	24.4 ± 3.7	17.7 ± 6.2*	22.7 ± 4.2	24.3 ± 2.9^#	1.42 (very large)	1.02 (large)	0.48 (small)	0.03
Crew	23.1 ± 5.7	17.3 ± 5.6*	18.4 ± 7.0	21.6 ± 8.0	1.11 (large)	0.19	0.46 (small)	0.23 (small)
Fatigue
Cyclists	4.1 ± 1.6	7.6 ± 1.3*	5.0 ± 2.8	3.4 ± 2.1^#	2.59 (very large)	1.29 (large)	0.70 (medium)	0.41 (small)
Crew	3.6 ± 1.9	7.3 ± 2.7*	7.3 ± 3.5	3.3 ± 2.2^#	1.71 (very large)	0.00	1.48 (very large)	0.16
Confusion
Cyclists	6.4 ± 5.2	6.9 ± 5.2	4.4 ± 1.0	4.9 ± 1.2	0.10	0.72 (medium)	0.49 (small)	0.42 (small)
Crew	4.7 ± 2.4	5.4 ± 2.6	4.3 ± 3.4	5.0 ± 2.9	0.30 (small)	0.39 (small)	0.24 (small)	0.12
Total mood disturbance
Cyclists	1.9 ± 14.9	10.6 ± 22.1	−4.0 ± 5.9^#	−4.6 ± 11.5^#	0.50 (medium)	0.98 (large)	0.07	0.53 (medium)
Crew	−4.0 ± 14.3	10.3 ± 16.2*	7.6 ± 16.4	−2.9 ± 13.3^#	1.01 (large)	0.18	0.76 (medium)	0.09
Interpersonal relationships
Cyclists	23.3 ±4.1	23.3 ± 4.6	25.1 ± 2.8	25.4 ± 2.6	0.00	0.51 (medium)	0.12	0.66 (medium)
Crew	21.6 ± 5.5	17.1 ± 5.0^$	20.7 ± 4.4	22.4 ± 4.3^#	0.93 (large)	0.83 (large)	0.42 (small)	0.18

Notes: *p < 0.05 for difference with Pre; ^#p < 0.05 for difference with Mid; ^$p < 0.05 for difference with Cyclists. Data are presented as mean ± SD.