Publications

Authors:

Fornasiero, Alessandro; Savoldelli, Aldo; Mattivi, Michele; Forrer, Tobia; Todesco, Beatrice; Cuniberti, Giorgia Celeste; Callovini, Alexa; Schena, Federico; Holmberg, Hans-Christer; Pellegrini, Barbara; Bortolan, Lorenzo

Title:

Competitive Demands and Performance-Determining Variables in Olympic Ski Mountaineering

Year:

2025

Type of item:

Articolo in Rivista

Tipologia ANVUR:

Articolo su rivista

Language:

Inglese

Format:

Elettronico

Referee:

Sì

Name of journal:

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS PHYSIOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE

ISSN of journal:

1555-0265

N° Volume:

First Published Online: 26 Mar 2025

Page numbers:

1-10

Keyword:

exercise intensity; performance analysis; performance testing; winter sports

Short description of contents:

Purpose: To investigate the competitive demands and performance-determining variables in the Sprint and Mixed-Relay formats in male and female ski mountaineers. Methods: Performance data of 76 ski mountaineers (36 females) competing in a World Cup event were analyzed. A total of 20 ski mountaineers (11 females) completed ski-mountaineering-specific maximal and supramaximal (intensity > VO2max) tests, with a subgroup of 10 ski mountaineers (5 females) being monitored during the races. Results: Near-maximal cardiac responses (>95% of maximal heart rate) were observed in the 2 formats, with significantly higher ascent speed and contribution of lactic anaerobic metabolism in the Sprint than in the Mixed Relay (blood lactate 12.9 [3.2] vs 6.3 [1.2] mmol/L, P < .001). Uphill skiing represented the majority of race time in both formats and accounted for most of the variance in performance (∼80%-90%), with transition times explaining almost all the remaining variance (∼10%-15%). In the Mixed Relay, the skiing speed at the second ventilatory threshold (R2 = .78, P = .001) and the maximal speed at the end of the VO2max test (R2 = .78, P = .019) were the best predictors of performance in the whole pool of ski mountaineers and in males, respectively. The maximal sustainable skiing speed over a 2-minute effort was the best predictor of performance in the Sprint (R2 = .95, P < .001) for both sexes. Discussion: Ski mountaineers should tailor their training considering the specific physiological demands of each race, emphasizing near-maximal to maximal intensities for the Mixed Relay and supramaximal intensities for the Sprint. These insights into Olympic ski-mountaineering disciplines are of considerable value for athletes and coaches in preparation for the Winter Olympics.

Web page:

https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2024-0451

Product ID:

144921

Handle IRIS:

11562/1158707

Last Modified:

March 30, 2025

Bibliographic citation:

Fornasiero, Alessandro; Savoldelli, Aldo; Mattivi, Michele; Forrer, Tobia; Todesco, Beatrice; Cuniberti, Giorgia Celeste; Callovini, Alexa; Schena, Federico; Holmberg, Hans-Christer; Pellegrini, Barbara; Bortolan, Lorenzo, Competitive Demands and Performance-Determining Variables in Olympic Ski Mountaineering «INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS PHYSIOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE» , vol. First Published Online: 26 Mar 2025 , 2025 , pp. 1-10

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