title: Impact of the initial classic section during a simulated cross-country skiing skiathlon on the cardiopulmonary responses during the subsequent period of skate skiing.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess potential changes in the performance and cardiorespiratory responses of elite cross-country skiers following transition from the classic (CL) to the skating (SK) technique during a simulated skiathlon. Eight elite male skiers performed two 6 km (2 × 3 km) roller-skiing time trials on a treadmill at racing speed: one starting with the classic and switching to the skating technique (CL1-SK2) and another employing the skating technique throughout (SK1-SK2), with continuous monitoring of gas exchanges, heart rates, and kinematics (video). The overall performance times in the CL1-SK2 (21:12 ± 1:24) and SK1-SK2 (20:48 ± 2:00) trials were similar, and during the second section of each performance times and overall cardiopulmonary responses were also comparable. However, in comparison with SK1-SK2, the CL1-SK2 trial involved significantly higher increases in minute ventilation (V̇E, 89.8 ± 26.8 vs. 106.8 ± 17.6 L·min(-1)) and oxygen uptake (V̇O2; 3.1 ± 0.8 vs 3.5 ± 0.5 L·min(-1)) 2 min after the transition as well as longer time constants for V̇E, V̇O2, and heart rate during the first 3 min after the transition. This higher cardiopulmonary exertion was associated with ∼3% faster cycle rates. In conclusion, overall performance during the 2 time trials did not differ. The similar performance times during the second sections were achieved with comparable mean cardiopulmonary responses. However, the observation that during the initial 3-min post-transition following classic skiing cardiopulmonary responses and cycle rates were slightly higher supports the conclusion that an initial section of classic skiing exerts an impact on performance during a subsequent section of skate skiing.
authors.affiliation: a EA 4660 Culture Sport Health Society and Exercise Performance, Health, Innovation Platform, University of Franche-Comté, 19 rue A Paré, Bâtiment Socrate - Plateforme EPSI, F-25030 Besançon, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mourot
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fabre
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hébert-Losier
authors.forename: Hans-Christer
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Holmberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012861:Skating / Q000502:physiology*; D012865:Skiing / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: bas du corps; cinématique; consommation d’oxygène; haut du corps; heart rate; kinematics; lower-body; oxygen pulse; oxygen uptake; performance; pouls d’oxygène; rythme cardiaque; skier; skieur; upper-body; ventilation