Abstract

Objectives: To examine the relations between maximal and submaximal indices of aerobic fitness and off road cycling performance in a homogeneous group of high level mountain bikers.

Methods: 12 internationally competitive mountain bikers completed the study. Maximum oxygen uptake (V˙o_2max), peak power output (PPO), power output (PO), and oxygen uptake (V˙o₂) at first (VT) and second (RCT) ventilatory thresholds were measured in the laboratory, and correlated with race time during a cross country circuit race.

Results: The only physiological indices of aerobic fitness correlated with off road cycling performance were PO and V˙o₂ at RCT when normalised to body mass (r = −0.63 and r = −0.66, respectively; p<0.05). VT, V˙o_2max, and PPO were not correlated to performance in this homogeneous group of high level mountain bikers.

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that submaximal indices of aerobic fitness such as PO and V˙o₂ at RCT are more important determinants of off road cycling performance than maximal indices such as PPO and V˙o_2max. This study confirms the importance of body mass for mountain biking performance. As aerobic fitness explained only 40% of the variance, other physiological and technical factors should be investigated, as they may be important determinants of cross country performance among elite mountain bikers.