The distribution of pace adopted by cyclists during a cross-country mountain bike World Championships

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the distribution of pace self-selected by cyclists of varying ability, biological age and sex performing in a mountain bike World Championship event. Data were collected on cyclists performing in the Elite Male (ELITE_male; n = 75), Elite Female (ELITE_female; n = 50), Under 23 Male (U23_male; n = 62), Under 23 Female (U23_female; n = 34), Junior Male (JNR_male; n = 71) and Junior Female (JNR_female; n = 30) categories of the 2009 UCI Cross-Country Mountain Bike World Championships. Split times were recorded for the top, middle and bottom 20% of all finishers of each category. Timing splits were positioned to separate the course into technical and non-technical, uphill, downhill and rolling/flat sections. Compared with bottom performers, top performers in all male categories (ELITE_male, U23_male, JNR_male) maintained a more even pace over the event as evidenced by a significantly lower standard deviation and range in average lap speed. Top performers, males, and ELITE_male athletes spent a lower percentage of overall race time on technical uphill sections of the course, compared with middle and bottom placed finishers, females, and JNR_male athletes, respectively. Better male performers adopt a more even distribution of pace throughout cross-country mountain events. Performance of lower placed finishers, females and JNR_male athletes may be improved by enhancing technical uphill cycling ability.

Keywords:

• pacing strategy
• sex
• age
• ability
• MTB

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Australian Institute of Sport, Edith Cowan University and Cycling Australia. At the time the study was conducted, C. Abbiss’ postdoctoral research fellowship was supported by the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization, the Australian Institute of Sport and Edith Cowan University. The assistance of Dean Higham, Hamilton Lee, Iona Halliday, Nathan Versey, Peter Fowler, Ben Rattray, Nicola Bullock, Weiliang Chung and Jess Seater (Australian Institute of Sport) during data collection is greatly appreciated.