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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baron R (2001) Aerobic and anaerobic power characteristics of off-road cyclists. Med Sci Sports Exerc 33(8):1387–1393. doi:10.1097/00005768-200108000-00022
Borg G (1998) The Borg RPE Scale. In: Borg G (ed) Borg`s perceived exertion and pain scales. Human Kinetics, Champaign
Fernandez-Garcia B, Perez-Landaluce J, Rodriguez-Alonso M et al (2000) Intensity of exercise during road race pro-cycling competition. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32(5):1002–1006. doi:10.1097/00005768-200005000-00019
Gilman MB, Wells CL (1993) The use of heart rates to monitor exercise intensity in relation to metabolic variables. Int J Sports Med 14:339–344
Gilman MB (1996) The use of heart rate to monitor the intensity of endurance training. Sports Med 21:73–79
Hurst HT, Atkins S (2002) The physiological demands of downhill mountain biking as determined by heart rate monitoring. Communication to the 7th Annual Congress of the European College of Sports Sciences, Athens, Greece, 2002
Hurst HT, Atkins S (2006) Power output of field-based downhill mountain biking. J Sports Sci 24(10):1047–1053. doi:10.1080/02640410500431997
Impellizzeri FM, Marcora SM (2007) The physiology of mountain biking. Sports Med 37(1):59–71. doi:10.2165/00007256-200737010-00005
Impellizzeri FM, Sassi A, Rodriguez-Alonso M et al (2002) Exercise intensity during off-road cycling competitions. Med Sci Sports Exerc 34(11):1808–1813. doi:10.1097/00005768-200211000-00018
Impellizzeri FM, Rampinini E, Sassi A et al (2005a) Physiological correlates to off-road cycling performance. J Sports Sci 23(1):41–47. doi:10.1080/02640410410001730061
Impellizzeri FM, Marcora SM, Rampinini E et al (2005b) Correlations between physiological variables and performance in high level cross country off road cyclists. Br J Sports Med 39(10):747–751. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2004.017236
Jeukendrup AE, Van Diemen A (1998) Heart rate monitoring during training and competition in cyclists. J Sports Sci 16:S91–S99. doi:10.1080/026404198366722
Kuipers H, Verstappen FT, Keizer HA et al (1985) Variability of aerobic performance in the laboratory and its physiologic correlates. Int J Sports Med 6(4):197–201
Lee H, Martin DT, Anson JM et al (2002) Physiological characteristics of successful mountain bikers and professional road cyclists. J Sports Sci 20(12):1001–1008. doi:10.1080/026404102321011760
Lucia A, Hoyos J, Carvajal A et al (1999) Heart rate response to professional road cycling: the Tour de France. Int J Sports Med 20(3):167–172. doi:10.1055/s-2007-971112
Lucia A, Hoyos J, Perez M et al (2000) Heart rate and performance parameters in elite cyclists: a longitudinal study. Med Sci Sports Exerc 32(19):1777–1782
Lucia A, Hoyos J, Santalla A et al (2003a) Giro, Tour and Vuelta in the same season. Br J Sports Med 37(5):457–459. doi:10.1136/bjsm.37.5.457
Lucia A, Hoyos J, Santalla A et al (2003b) Tour de France versus Vuelta a Espana: which is harder? Med Sci Sports Exerc 35(5):872–878. doi:10.1249/01.MSS.0000064999.82036.B4
Neumayr G, Pfister R, Mitterbauer G et al (2002) Exercise intensity of cycle-touring events. Int J Sports Med 23(7):505–509
Neumayr G, Pfister R, Mitterbauer G et al (2003) Heart rate response to ultraendurance cycling. Br J Sports Med 37(1):89–90
Neumayr G, Pfister R, Mitterbauer G et al (2004) Effect of ultramarathon cycling on the heart rate in elite cyclits. Br J Sports Med 38(1):55–59
Padilla S, Mujika I, Orbananos J et al (2001) Exercise intensity and load during mass-start stage races in professional road cycling. Med Sci Sports Exerc 33(5):796–802. doi:10.1097/00005768-200105000-00019
Padilla S, Mujika I, Santisteban J et al (2008) Exercise intensity and load during uphill cycling in professional 3-week races. Eur J Appl Physiol 102(4):431–438. doi:10.1007/s00421-007-0602-9
Palmer GS, Hawley JA, Dennis SC et al (1994) Heart rate responses during a 4-d cycle stage race. Med Sci Sports Exerc 26(10):1278–1283. doi:10.1249/00005768-199410000-00016
Richardson RS, Verstraete D, Johnson SC et al (1996) Evidence of a secondary hypervolemia in trained man following acute high intensity exercise. Int J Sports Med 17(4):243–247. doi:10.1055/s-2007-972840
Rodriguez-Marroyo JA, Garcia-Lopez J, Avila C et al (2003) Intensity of exercise according to topography in professional cyclists. Med Sci Sports Exerc 35(7):1209–1215. doi:10.1249/01.MSS.0000074562.64053.4F
Rules UCI Mountain Bike Races (2008) Chapter I, II, VI, VIII, Annex, pages 1, 3, 6, 22, 24, 46. http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTkzNg&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=34424. Accessed 11 Apr 2008
Seifert JG, Luetkemeier MJ, Spencer MK et al (1997) The effects of mountain bike suspension systems on energy expenditure, physical exertion and time trial performance during mountain bicycling. Int J Sports Med 18(3):197–200. doi:10.1055/s-2007-972619
Stapelfeldt B, Schwirtz A, Schumacher YO et al (2004) Workload demands in mountain bike racing. Int J Sports Med 25(4):294–300. doi:10.1055/s-2004-819937
Takaishi T, Yasuda Y, Ono T et al (1996) Optimal pedalling rate estimated from neuromuscular fatigue for cyclists. Med Sci Sports Exerc 28(12):1492–1497. doi:10.1097/00005768-199612000-00008
Union Cycliste Internationale (2008) http://www.uci.ch. Accessed 11 Apr 2008
Vogt S, Heinrich L, Schumacher YO et al (2006) Power output during stage racing in professional road cycling. Med Sci Sports Exerc 38(1):147–151. doi:10.1249/01.mss.0000183196.63081.6a
Wang MJ, Hull ML (1997) A dynamic system model of an off-road cyclist. J Biomech Eng 119(3):248–253. doi:10.1115/1.2796088
Wirnitzer KC, Faulhaber M (2007) Hemoglobin and hematocrit during an 8 day mountainbike race: a field study. Letter to the Editor. J Sports Sci Med (serial online)6. http://www.jssm.org/vol6/n2/16/v6n2-16text.php
Conflict of interest statement
None
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wirnitzer, K.C., Kornexl, E. Exercise intensity during an 8-day mountain bike marathon race. Eur J Appl Physiol 104, 999–1005 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0855-y
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0855-y