title: Exercise intensity during an 8-day mountain bike marathon race.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. katharina@wirnitzer.at
authors.forename: Katharina C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wirnitzer
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kornexl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001317:Austria; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates
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