Pacing Profiles in Age Group Cross-Country Skiers in the Vasaloppet 2012-2016

Abstract

Little is known for pacing profiles in age groups cross-country skiers. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of sex, age and calendar year on pacing strategies in the largest ski marathon in the world. All finishers (n = 66,435) in ‘Vasaloppet’ from 2012 to 2016 were examined for 12 different age groups (G). There was an association between age group and sex (χ² = 1091.1, P < 0.001; Cramer’s V = 0.13, P < 0.001), where the men-to-women ratio in each age group ranged from 3.29 (in G₂₀) to 64.36 (in G₇₀). A between-within subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a sex × split interaction of small magnitude (P< 0.001, η² = 0.019) on speed (v) indicating sex-specific pacing strategies. A main effect of sex on v was observed (P< 0.001), where men were faster than women (12.5 ± 3.3 versus 10.3 ± 2.4 km·h⁻¹, respectively). There was also a main effect of split on v of large magnitude (P< 0.001, η² = 0.517), where all eight splits differed (v2 > v3 > v8 > v5 > v4 > v7 > v6 > v₁). In women and men, age groups differed (small magnitude) for v (P< 0.001, η² = 0.015 and η² = 0.031, respectively), with the fastest v observed in G₂₁ and G₄₀, respectively. In women and men, an age group × split interaction on v of trivial magnitude was observed (P< 0.001, η² = 0.005 and η² = 0.007, respectively). Based on these findings, it was concluded (i) a relatively low participation of women with increasing age, (ii) different pattern of pacing in women and men, and (iii) the age of the fastest v differed by sex.

The effect of sex and performance level on pacing in cross-country skiers: Vasaloppet 2004‐2017

“…For instance, a greater change in speed was found among females than among males in the Engadin Ski Marathon 16 and in a previous study using fewer years (2012‐2016) in the Vasaloppet race. 5 In contrast to our present findings, it has been shown that females were better pacers (i.e., with more even pacing) than males in marathon running. 9 , 10 This disagreement indicates a likely variation in the effect of sex on pacing among different endurance sports.…”

“…Considering the effect of sex on pacing, a remarkable observation was that females presented greater changes in speed at the stations (i.e., percent change from the preceding to the following split) than males. This observation indicated that males show a more even pacing, which was in partial agreement with the existing literature concerning XC skiing 5 , 16 but not for other sports. For instance, a greater change in speed was found among females than among males in the Engadin Ski Marathon 16 and in a previous study using fewer years (2012‐2016) in the Vasaloppet race.…”

“…Another recent analysis of the Vasaloppet ski race from 2012 to 2016 indicated that males had relatively more even pacing than females, and no difference was observed among age groups. 5 The discrepancy between the 2 abovementioned studies should be attributed to their different samples because Carlsson and colleagues 4 examined females and males with the same race times, whereas Nikolaidis and Knechtle 5 analyzed all finishers. Furthermore, an analysis of 10 km and 15 km XC races showed that slower skiers presented larger decreases in speed during the race compared with the fastest skiers for males, but no effect of performance on pacing, according to the comparison between groups differing for race time, was observed for females.…”

Impact of Continuous Practice to the Performance in Cross Country Race

“…Then from this event, some students will be selected and sent to participate at the next level of cross-country race in Majlis Sukan Sekolah Daerah (MSSD). There are three categories; below 12 years old (4 kilometers), below 15 years old (6 kilometers) and below 18 years old (8 kilometers) [3,4].…”

The effect of aging on pacing strategies of cross-country skiers and the role of performance level

“…Cross-country (XC) skiing is one of the most popular winter endurance sports, especially in countries in the central and north Europe. Considering the increased participation of master XC skiers in training and competition, an increased scientific interest has been focused on performance aspects such as age of peak performance and variation of sex difference by age [ 1 – 4 ]. The average age of women and men XC skiers in a very popular race, Engadin ski marathon, is 38 and 44 years old, respectively [ 3 ].…”