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The Physiology of Mountain Biking

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Abstract

Mountain biking is a popular outdoor recreational activity and an Olympic sport. Cross-country circuit races have a winning time of ≈120 minutes and are performed at an average heart rate close to 90% of the maximum, corresponding to 84% of maximum oxygen uptake (V̇O2max). More than 80% of race time is spent above the lactate threshold. This very high exercise intensity is related to the fast starting phase of the race; the several climbs, forcing off-road cyclists to expend most of their effort going against gravity; greater rolling resistance; and the isometric contractions of arm and leg muscles necessary for bike handling and stabilisation. Because of the high power output (up to 500W) required during steep climbing and at the start of the race, anaerobic energy metabolism is also likely to be a factor of off-road cycling and deserves further investigation. Mountain bikers’ physiological characteristics indicate that aerobic power (VO2max >70 mL/kg/min) and the ability to sustain high work rates for prolonged periods of time are prerequisites for competing at a high level in off-road cycling events. The anthropometric characteristics of mountain bikers are similar to climbers and all-terrain road cyclists. Various parameters of aerobic fitness are correlated to cross-country performance, suggesting that these tests are valid for the physiological assessment of competitive mountain bikers, especially when normalised to body mass. Factors other than aerobic power and capacity might influence off-road cycling performance and require further investigation. These include off-road cycling economy, anaerobic power and capacity, technical ability and pre-exercise nutritional strategies.

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The authors would like to thank Aldo Sassi (Director of MAPEI Sport Research Center) for his valuable support. Particular thanks also to Ermanno Rampinini, Massimo Induni, Piero Mognoni, Luca Guercilena, Gianna Meoni and Alessio Nencetti for their help in the collection of our published and unpublished data on off-road cyclists. We are also grateful to David T. Martin, Tammie Ebert and Damian Grundy of the Australian Institute of Sport for their constructive discussions about mountain biking.

The cyclists involved in the unpublished studies have signed an informed consent, and the studies, even if not published, were approved by the Independent Institutional Review Board of MAPEI Sport Research Center. Funding for this research was provided by the MAPEI group. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

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  1. Human Performance Laboratory, MAPEI Sport Research Center, Via Don Minzoni 34, 21053, Castellanza (VA), Italy

    Franco M. Impellizzeri

  2. School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, UK

    Samuele M. Marcora

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  1. Franco M. Impellizzeri
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Correspondence to Franco M. Impellizzeri.

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Impellizzeri, F.M., Marcora, S.M. The Physiology of Mountain Biking. Sports Med 37, 59–71 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200737010-00005

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