title: The impact of a simulated grand tour on sleep, mood, and well-being of competitive cyclists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Professional cycling is considered one of the most demanding of all endurance sports. The three major professional cycling stages races (i.e. Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España) require cyclists to compete daily covering between ~150-200 km for three consecutive weeks. Anecdotal evidence indicates that such an event has a significant effect on the sleep, mood, and general well-being of cyclists, particularly during the latter stages of the event. The primary aim of this study was to simulate a grand tour and determine the impact a grand tour has on the sleep, mood, and general well-being of competitive cyclists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one male cyclists (M±SD, age 22.2±2.7 years) were examined for 39 days across three phases (i.e. baseline, simulated grand tour, and recovery). Sleep was assessed using sleep diaries and wrist activity monitors. Mood and general well-being were assessed using the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and Visual Analogue Scales (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amount and quality of sleep as assessed by the wrist activity monitors declined during the simulated grand tour. In contrast, self-reported sleep quality improved throughout the study. Cyclists' mood and general well-being as indicated by vigour, motivation, physical and mental state declined during the simulated tour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future investigations should examine sleep, mood and well-being during an actual grand tour. Such data could prove instrumental toward understanding the sleep and psychological changes that occur during a grand tour.
authors.affiliation: Appleton Institute for Behavioural Science, Central Queensland University, SA, Australia - m.lastella@cqu.edu.au.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lastella
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Roach
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Halson
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sargent
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001315:Australia; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors