Even Between-Lap Pacing Despite High Within-Lap Variation During Mountain Biking

Purpose: Given the paucity of research on pacing strategies during competitive events, this study examined
changes in dynamic high-resolution performance parameters to analyze pacing profiles during a multiple-lap
mountain-bike race over variable terrain. Methods: A global-positioning-system (GPS) unit (Garmin, Edge
305, USA) recorded velocity (m/s), distance (m), elevation (m), and heart rate at 1 Hz from 6 mountain-bike
riders (mean ± SD age = 27.2 ± 5.0 y, stature = 176.8 ± 8.1 cm, mass = 76.3 ± 11.7 kg, VO2max = 55.1 ± 6.0 mL
· kg–1 . min–1) competing in a multilap race. Lap-by-lap (interlap) pacing was analyzed using a 1-way ANOVA
for mean time and mean velocity. Velocity data were averaged every 100 m and plotted against race distance
and elevation to observe the presence of intralap variation. Results: There was no significant difference in lap times (P = .99) or lap velocity (P = .65) across the 5 laps. Within each lap, a high degree of oscillation in velocity was observed, which broadly reflected changes in terrain, but high-resolution data demonstrated additional
nonmonotonic variation not related to terrain. Conclusion: Participants adopted an even pace strategy across
the 5 laps despite rapid adjustments in velocity during each lap. While topographical and technical variations
of the course accounted for some of the variability in velocity, the additional rapid adjustments in velocity
may be associated with dynamic regulation of self-paced exercise.