title: Pacing Behavior and Tactical Positioning in 500- and 1000-m Short-Track Speed Skating.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore pacing behavior and tactical positioning during the shorter 500- and 1000-m short-track competitions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lap times and intermediate rankings of elite 500- and 1000-m short-track-skating competitors were collected over the 2012-13 season. First, lap times were analyzed using a MANOVA, and for each lap, differences between sex, race type, final ranking, and stage of competition were determined. Second, Kendall tau-b correlations were used to assess relationships between intermediate and final rankings. In addition, intermediate rankings of the winner of each race were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Top-placed athletes appeared faster than bottom-placed athletes in every lap in the 500-m, while in the 1000-m no differences were found until the final 4 laps (P < .05). Correlations between intermediate and final rankings were already high at the beginning stages of the 50-m (lap 1: r = .59) but not for the 1000-m (lap 1: r = .21).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although 500- and 1000-m short-track races are both relatively short, fundamental differences in pacing behavior and tactical positioning were found. A fast-start strategy seems to be optimal for 500-m races, while the crucial segment in 1000-m races seems to be from the 6th lap to the finish line (ie, after ± 650 m). These findings provide evidence to suggest that athletes balance between choosing an energetically optimal profile and the tactical and positional benefits that play a role when riding against an opponent, as well as contributing to developing novel insights in exploring athletic behavior when racing against opponents.
authors.forename: Olaf S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Noorbergen
authors.forename: Marco J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Konings
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Micklewright
authors.forename: Marije T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Elferink-Gemser
authors.forename: Florentina J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Hettinga
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000523:psychology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012861:Skating / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: decision making; elite athletes; interpersonal competition; opponents; race analysis