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Int J Sports Med 2018; 39(11): 875-880
DOI: 10.1055/a-0592-7811
Behavioural Sciences
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A Portrait of Pacing Profile of Cross-Country Skiers in the Vasaloppet 2004–2017

Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis
1   Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Nikaia, Greece
,
Elias Villiger
2   Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Thomas Rosemann
2   Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Beat Knechtle
2   Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
3   Medbase St. Galle Am Vadianplatz, St. Gallen, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted 26 February 2018

Publication Date:
10 August 2018 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of performance group by race time (10 groups;<3 h, 3–4 h, and so on up to>12 h) on pacing in women (n=19,465) and men (n=164,454) finishers in the ‘Vasaloppet’ cross-country (XC) skiing race from 2004 to 2017. The speed in the fastest and slowest split was analysed as a percentage of the mean race speed and pacing was defined as the difference (%) between the fastest and slowest split. Women had a larger pace range than men (44.0±10.6% versus 41.1±12.5%, respectively, p<0.001, d=0.25). An almost perfect relationship between performance group and pacing was observed in women (r=0.900, p<0.001) and men (r=0.908, p<0.001). A large main effect of performance on pacing was observed in women (p<0.001, η2=0.292), where the smaller range was in the<4 h group (22.8±3.3%) and the largest in the 10–11 h group (49.2±9.9%). In men, the corresponding values were 21.6±2.2% (<3 h group) and 51.6±11.2% (10–11 h group; p<0.001, η2=0.474). Based on these findings, it was concluded that fast XC skiers had relatively the most even pacing and pacing became less even with decreasing performance. This information is of practical value for coaches working with XC skiers to develop optimal sex- and performance-tailored pacing strategies.

Key words

endurance exercise - gender - race speed - skiing - sport performance - winter sport
 

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