Abstract
There are minimal data in the literature describing international caliber off-road cyclists (mountain bikers), particularly as they compare physiologically to international caliber road cyclists. Elite female (n=10) and male (n=10) athletes representing the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) National Team were evaluated over a six-month period during the 1994 season. During the same time interval, elite female (n=10) and male (n=10) athletes representing the United States Cycling Federation (USCF) National Road Team were tested. Athletes were evaluated on an electrically braked bicycle ergometer using a standardized protocol (3-min stages, 25W increments). Measurements were made during submaximal and maximal exercise and included heart rate (Polar Vantage XL), blood lactate (YSI 2300 Stat Plus) and oxygen uptake (Sensormedics 2900). Lactate threshold (LT) was identified as an exponential increase in blood lactate concentration in response to progressive submaximal workloads. All laboratory tests were conducted at 1860m (6100 ft). Among the female athletes, physiological responses at LT and during maximal exercise were similar between NORBA and USCF cyclists with one exception: USCF cyclists demonstrated a significantly greater (p<0.05) absolute and relative maximal aerobic capacity (USCF=3.85 ± 0.30, NORBA=3.33± 0.27 L · min-1; USCF=63.8 ± 4.2, NORBA=57.9± 2.8 ml·kg-1·min-1). Among the male athletes, physiological responses at LT and during maximal exercise were similar between NORBA and USCF cyclists with two exceptions: (1) USCF cyclists produced significantly greater absolute and relative power at LT (USCF=321± 17, NORBA=271 ± 29 W; USCF=4.4 ± 0.3, NORBA=3.8± 0.3 W · kg-1), and (2) USCF cyclists produced significantly greater absolute and relative power during maximal exercise(USCF=470 ± 35, NORBA=420 ± 42 W; USCF=6.5 ± 0.3, NORBA=5.9 ± 0.3 W · kg-1). These data suggest that, in general, elite off-road cyclists possess physiological profiles that are similar to elite road cyclists.
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