Reduced Endurance Capacity and Suboptimal Energy Availability in Top-Level Female Cyclists

Author(s)

Barreto, Gabriel ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; de Oliveira, Luana Farias ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Saito, Tiemi ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Klosterhoff, Rafael ^{[1, 2, 4, 3]} ; Perim, Pedro ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Dolan, Eimear ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Pereira, Rosa Maria R. ^[5] ; Campos-Ferraz, Patricia ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Lima, Fernanda R. ^{[1, 2, 3, 6]} ; Saunders, Bryan ^{[1, 2, 3, 7]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med FMUSP, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Appl Physiol & Nutr Res Grp, Sch Phys Educ & Sport, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Rheumatol Div, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Parana, Dept Biochem & Mol Biol, Curitiba, Parana - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Hosp Clin HCFMUSP, Rheumatol Div, Bone Metab Lab, Fac Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med FMUSP, Rheumatol Div, Sports Med Grp, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[7] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med FMUSP, Inst Orthoped & Traumatol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS PHYSIOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE; v. 16, n. 8, p. 1194-1203, AUG 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Purpose: Women's professional cycling has grown in popularity, and this increase is also apparent in Brazil, which has increased its female cycling calendar in recent years. The aim of this observational study was to (1) determine training and competition loads of a top-level Brazilian female cycling team, (2) evaluate nutrition and clinical health, and (3) measure whether exercise capacity changed throughout the season. Methods: Training and competition data were collected over the season using global positioning system monitors, while laboratory-based physiological and performance measures (incremental cycling test, 30-s Wingate, 4-km time trial) and clinical and nutritional analyses were performed at time points throughout the season. Results: Total distance covered over the year was 11,124 (2895) km (7382-14,698 km). Endurance capacity was reduced over the season (P = .005) but not anaerobic power (all P > .05). Nutrition and stress markers remained largely unchanged throughout the season, although there were some individual fluctuations in some measures, and testosterone concentration was low for some. Median estimated energy availability ranged between 32.3 and 56.8 kcal.kgLBM(-1).d(-1) during training and 26.4 and 53.8 kcal.kgLBM(-1).d(-1) during competition. Percentage of training spent in optimal estimated energy availability was generally low, with 3 athletes spending <35% within the optimal intake. Conclusions: Substantial training and competition loads of the monitored professional Brazilian female cyclists may have reduced exercise capacity toward the end of the season, indicative of a grueling yearlong schedule. Several athletes may have had suboptimal energy availability during the season, potentially affecting testosterone concentration. These data demonstrate the difficulties in maintaining optimal nutrition, health, and performance throughout a season in professional female cycling and highlight the need for quality sport-science support for this type of top-level athlete. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/01594-5 - Blood and muscle responses to sodium bicarbonate supplementation and subsequent exercise performance
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Lopes Perim
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 17/15314-1 - The influence of the CYP1A2 polymorphism on the physiological responses and performance following acute supplementation with caffeine
• Grantee: Gabriel Henrique Castanho Barreto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 16/50438-0 - Nutritional suplementation and exercise to optimize exercise performance: focus on individual responses and a step towards personalized sports nutrition
• Grantee: Bryan Saunders
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/05616-6 - The bone response to exercise: a translational research program exploring clinical and mechanistic aspects
• Grantee: Eimear Bernadette Dolan
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/26899-6 - The bone response to exercise a translational research program exploring clinical and mechanistic aspects
• Grantee: Eimear Bernadette Dolan
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers