title: Physiological effects of an ultra-cycle ride in an amateur athlete - a case report.
abstract: The physiological effects of ultraendurance exercise are poorly investigated. The present case report describes the exercise intensity of ultraendurance cycling and its physiological impacts on various organ functions in an amateur cyclist performing the Ötztal Radmarathon twice en bloque in a circuit of 2 identical laps (distance 460 km; cumulative altitude difference 11,000 m). In a pre-race laboratory test the athlete's performance capacity was measured as the maximal aerobic power (VO2max= 70 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)), a maximal power output (5.7 W.kg(-1)) and lactate threshold of 89%. The overall intensity during the ride was moderate (HRmean = 131 b.min(-1); %HRmax = 0.71) and significantly declined during the course of the race. Extensive biochemical laboratory testing performed pre- and post-race excluded major exercise-induced organ disturbances. For further confirmation and better understanding of the physiological effects of ultra-cycle events future studies of larger athlete populations are required.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Medicine, University Clinics of Innsbruck , Austria.
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neumayr
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Clinics of Innsbruck , Austria.
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gänzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Clinics of Innsbruck , Austria.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sturm
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Medicine, University Clinics of Innsbruck , Austria.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pfister
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Medicine, University Clinics of Innsbruck , Austria.
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mitterbauer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Medicine, University Clinics of Innsbruck , Austria.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hörtnagl
keywords: Ultraendurance event; cycling; exercise intensity; heart rate; organ functions