title: Field and laboratory correlates of performance in competitive cross-country mountain bikers.
abstract: We designed a laboratory test with variable fixed intensities to simulate cross-country mountain biking and compared this to more commonly used laboratory tests and mountain bike performance. Eight competitive male mountain bikers participated in a cross-country race and subsequently did six performance tests: an individual outdoor time trial on the same course as the race and five laboratory tests. The laboratory tests were as follows: an incremental cycle test to fatigue to determine peak power output; a 26-min variable fixed-intensity protocol using an electronically braked ergometer followed immediately by a 1-km time trial using the cyclist's own bike on an electronically braked roller ergometer; two 52-min variable fixed-intensity protocols each followed by a 1-km time trial; and a 1-km time trial done on its own. Outdoor competition time and outdoor time trial time correlated significantly (r = 0.79, P < 0.05). Both outdoor tests correlated better with peak power output relative to body mass (both r = -0.83, P < 0.05) than absolute peak power output (outdoor competition: r = -0.65; outdoor time trial: r = -0.66; non-significant). Outdoor performance times did not correlate with the laboratory tests. We conclude that cross-country mountain biking is similar to uphill or hilly road cycling. Further research is required to design sport-specific tests to determine the remaining unexplained variance in performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.forename: Elmarie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terblanche
authors.forename: Kathryn H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Myburgh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005221:Fatigue; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D013019:South Africa; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid