Short-term performance peaking in an elite cross-country mountain biker |
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| Authors: | Bent R Rønnestad Joar Hansen Geir Vegge Iñigo Mujika |
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| Institution: | 1. Section for Sport Science, Lillehammer University College, Lillehammer, Norwaybent.ronnestad@hil.no;3. Section for Sport Science, Lillehammer University College, Lillehammer, Norway;4. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain;5. School of Kinesiology and Health Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Finis Terrae University, Santiago, Chile |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACTEndurance athletes usually achieve performance peaks with 2–4 weeks of overload training followed by 1–3weeks of tapering. With a tight competition schedule, this may not be appropriate. This case investigates the effect of a 7-day overload period including daily high-intensity aerobic training followed by a 5-day step taper between two competitions in an elite cross-country mountain biker. Pre-test peak oxygen consumption was 89 ml·kg?1·min?1, peak aerobic power 6.8 W·kg?1, power output at 2 mmol·L?1 blood lactate concentration 3.9 W·kg?1, maximal isometric force 180 Nm and squat jump 21 cm. During overload, perceived leg well-being went from normal to very heavy. On day 1 after overload, vastus lateralis and vastus medialis EMGmean activity was reduced by 3% and 7%, respectively. Other baseline measurements were reduced by 3–7%. On day 4 of the taper, he felt that his legs were good and all measurements were 3–7% higher than before overload. On day 6 after the taper, his legs felt very good. This case shows that an elite mountain biker (11th in UCI World Cup one week prior to the pre-test) could achieve a rather large supercompensation by using a 12-day performance peaking protocol. |
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| Keywords: | Training load endurance supercompensation tapering periodisation |
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