title: A comparison of ultra-endurance cyclists in a qualifying ultra-cycling race for Paris-Brest-Paris and Race Across America-Swiss cycling marathon.
abstract: Ultra-endurance events test the adaptation of human physiology to extreme physical and mental demands, high levels of training, motivation, and physical conditioning among participants. To understand basic differences among participants according to the severity of the race, participants in qualifying events for two ultra-endurance cycling races, differing in length and intensity, were compared on measures of anthropometry, training, and support. One race was four times longer, required supporting teams, and racers typically had little sleep, which should lead to the qualifiers being substantially more highly trained than those from the shorter race. The qualifiers in the longer race had greater intensity in training while the qualifiers in the shorter race relied more on training volume. Different strategies and types of training reflected the different demands of the races. Future studies should evaluate personality and motivational differences in ultra-endurance events and between these athletes and athletes in other sports.
authors.affiliation: Facharzt FMH fiür Allgemeinmedizin, Gesundheitszentrum St. Gallen, Vadianstrasse 26, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland. beat.knechtle@hispeed.ch
authors.forename: Beat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knechtle
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knechtle
authors.forename: Christoph Alexander
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rüst
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosemann
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011603:Psychophysiology; D013557:Switzerland; D013997:Time Factors