PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Impellizzeri, F M
AU  - Marcora, S M
AU  - Rampinini, E
AU  - Mognoni, P
AU  - Sassi, A
TI  - Correlations between physiological variables and performance in high level cross country off road cyclists
AID  - 10.1136/bjsm.2004.017236
DP  - 2005 Oct 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - 747--751
VI  - 39
IP  - 10
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/39/10/747.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/39/10/747.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2005 Oct 01; 39
AB  - 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˙o2max), 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˙o2max, 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˙o2max. 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.