Physiology of Triathlon I · 2019. 10. 29. · • Best to draft 0 and 50 cm behind lead swimmer or...

The Physiology of Triathlon

Veronica Vleck Ph.D.1 1

Table 1. Selected triathlon race distances and formats

a Age-group athletes race within 5 year age-bands. Actual race distances may vary slightly from those given in the

table because of topographical constraints. c Also classed as short distance and d long distance events. d Official

International Triathlon Union (ITU) distances Key: AWAD Athletes with a disability, U23 Under 23 years of age

2

Triathlon Mixed Relay 16 0.3 6.6 1 Elite N/A

Team Relayb 16 0.3 0.8 2 Junior, U23 & Elite Age-groupers

a

Super-Sprint 0.4 10 2.5

Sprintb 16 0.75 20 5 Junior Age-groupers

a AWAD

Olympic distance (OD)b 18 1.5 40 10 Elite & U23 Age-groupers

a

Middle distance (MD)c 2.5 80 20 No-one All

Double Olympicc 18 3 80 20 No-one All

Ironman 70:3c 1.9 90 21 No-one All

Elites

Age-groupersa AWAD

Elites

Age-groupers AWAD

Draft legal For Draft Illegal ForMinimum

Age

Swim

(km)

Cycle

(km)

Run

(km)

Ironman (IR)c 18

3.8 180 42 No-one

Event

Long Distance (Triple

Olympic)c 18

4.5 180 42 No-one

Aim of the presentation

To provide an overview of research relating to

the physiological, technical and tactical

demands of the sport

3

Hoeden, D (2017). Verletzungen und schmerzen im langdistanztriathlon: zusammenhange zwischen trainingsbezogenen risikofactoren und

haufigen beschwerdebildern bei langdistanztriatleten und - athletinnen (Injuries and pain in long-distance triathlon). Doctoral thesis,

University of Graz, AUT.

Millet, G.P.; Bentley, D.J.; & Vleck, V. (2007). (Invited paper) ‘The relationships between Science and Sport: Triathlon.’ International Journal

of Sports Physiology and Performance (2): 315-322

Fig 1. Number of research publications by year (Hoeden, 2017, updated from Millet ,

Bentley and Vleck, 2007)

Millet , Bentley and Vleck (2007)

4

Millet, G.P.; Bentley, D.J.; & Vleck, V. (2007). (Invited paper) ‘The relationships

between Science and Sport: Triathlon.’ Int J Sports Physiol Perf (2): 315-322

Although triathlon research is relatively recent, empirical field

based coaching knowledge appears more adapatable than in e.g.

running or cycling

5

Competition Intensity

Vleck, V., Millet, G.P., Bessone Alves, F (2014). ‘The impact of triathlon training and racing on athletes´health.’

Sports Medicine 44(12): 1659-92. DOI: 10.1007/s40279-014-0244-0 6

Competition Mode

Drafting /

Non-drafting

Wetsuit (14-20 C) /

Non-wetsuit

7

Effect of drafting during swimming

• 10-26 % in passive drag, in energy cost

•

• 31 % and 21 % in [BLA] and RPE respectively

• 3.2-6 % in performance

• Best to draft 0 and 50 cm behind lead swimmer or 50-100 cm to the side of the lead swimmer

7 Bassett et al. (1991). Chatard and Wilson, 2003). Reviewed in Millet, G.P; & Vleck, V.E. (2011). ‘Triathlon specificity.’ In Swimming: Science

and performance (Eds: L. Seifert, D. Chollet and I. Mujika). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers Inc.

8

Effects of wetsuits on performance

• velocity (m/s, 3-10 %)

• Decreased stroke rate (cycle/sec)

• stroke distance (m)

• Reduction in energy cost (VO2)

• Effect varies with race distance. Performance for

weaker swimmers relative to stronger swimmers.

9

(Chatard et al. (1995, 1996, 1998), Carlsson et al. (1996), Chollet et al. (2000), Cordain & Korpriva (1991), Lowdon et al. (1992). Millet et

al.(2000). Reviewed in Millet, G.P; & Vleck, V.E. (2011). ‘Triathlon specificity.’ In Swimming: Science and performance (Eds: L. Seifert, D.

Chollet and I. Mujika). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers Inc.

http://www.olympics.com/eng/news/images/post/AGAE-4PZA94.html

Effects of swimming on a

subsequent cycle?

+/- wetsuit, drafted/ non –

drafted (Delextrat et al., 2003a,b,c)

• Effects on submaximal power

output, heart rate, RPE or

[blood glucose] (Laursen et al., 2000; Kreider et al., 1988; Borchers &

Buckenmeyer, 1996).

• Limited effects following

upper body exercise on lower

body metabolism (Lepers et al., 1995).

Photo V. Vleck 10

Reviewed in Millet, G.P; & Vleck, V.E. (2011). ‘Triathlon specificity.’ In

Swimming: Science and performance (Eds: L. Seifert, D. Chollet and I.

Mujika). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers Inc.

1.15

1.2

1.25

1.3

1.35

1.4

1.45

1.5

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Distance (m)

Velo

cit

y (

m.s

-1)

top 50%

bottom

50%

*

*

Vleck, V.; Bürgi, A.; & Bentley, D.J. (2006). ‘The consequences of swim, cycle and run performance on overall result

in elite Olympic Distance triathlon.’ Int J Sports Med 27: 43-48.

Fig. 2. Lausanne 2001

11

What about swimming tactics?

What is the relative importance of this for the overall result?

Vleck, V.; Millet, G.; Bentley, D.; & Bürgi, A. (2008). ‘Pacing during an elite Olympic distance triathlon: comparison

between male and female competitors.’ Joutrnal of Science and Medicine in Sport 11: 424-432 12

‘It is likely that inferior swimming performance can result in a tactic

that involves greater work in the initial stages of the cycle stage of

elite OD racing, with a detrimental effect on subsequent running

performance.’ (Lausanne, 2001)

13

Photo V. Vleck

BUT metabolic demand during the cycle section is also influenced by

athlete ability relative to the rest of field (i.e. field density)..

14

Drafting in triathlon cycling

•Intensity relatively constant in time

trials (Padilla et al., 2000), stochastic in Elite

triathlon (Smith et al.,1999)

•Significant metabolic cost during

continuous drafting (Hausswirth et al., 1998).

•Increased O2 cost during alternate

drafting compared to continuous

drafting (Hausswirth et al. 2001).

•Changes in metabolism in constant

load vs. stochastic time trials (Liedl et al.

1999, Palmer et al., 1999).

16 Reviewed in Bentley, D.J.; Millet, G.P.; Vleck, V.E. & McNaughton, L.R. (2002). ‘Specific aspects of contemporary

triathlon: implications for physiological analysis and performance.’ Sports Medicine 32 (6): 345-59 15

• Marked excessive speed during the first

round

• Speeds in individual groups depend largely

on tactics (attack, wait), as well as course

topography.

Cycling results

16

Constant vs. stochastic power output

•Results in the cycling literature Foster et al., 1993; Liedl et al., 1999; Palmer et al., 1994; Sargeant, 1994; Atkinson and Brunskill, 2000).

•Relating field HR and PO values to lab data Padilla et al., 2000; Jeukendrup et al., 2001; Atkinson et al., 2003)

•Likely that protocol involving more supramax.

efforts will induce more performance decrements

Photo V. Vleck

19 Reviewed in Bentley, D.J.; Millet, G.P.; Vleck, V.E. & McNaughton, L.R. (2002). ‘Specific aspects of contemporary

triathlon: implications for physiological analysis and performance.’ Sports Medicine 32 (6): 345-59 18

34.0

35.0

36.0

37.0

38.0

39.0

40.0

41.0

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000

Distance (m)

Sp

eed

(km

.hr

-1)

males top 50% of group males bottom 50% of group

females top 50% of group females bottom 50% of group

Fig. 3. Bike speeds for top and bottom placed athletes, Lausanne 2002

Why are there differences between males and females?

20 Vleck, V.; Millet, G.; Bentley, D.; & Bürgi, A. (2008). ‘Pacing during an elite Olympic distance triathlon: comparison

between male and female competitors.’ JSAMS 11: 424-432 19

Stronger cyclists are

able to maintain, even

improve race position.

ability to benefit from

‘drafting effect’

because of speed,

smaller packs &

numbers in packs.



©N. Farrow

27.00

29.00

31.00

33.00

35.00

37.00

39.00

41.00

43.00

45.00

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Bike lap number

Speed (

km

.hr-1

)

1st pack (n=40) 2nd bike pack (n=4) 3rd bike pack (n=15) 4th pack (n=2) 5th pack (n=5)

You can see this clearly in Lausanne WC data

Fig. 4. Bike speeds by pack, Lausanne 2002



http://www.triathlon.worldsport.com/pix99/hungary_wc_99/gallery_big28.html

30.00

31.00

32.00

33.00

34.00

35.00

36.00

37.00

38.00

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Bike lap number

Speed (

km

.hr-1

)

1st pack (n=10) 2nd pack (n=8) 3rd pack (n=4) 4th pack (n=2) 5th pack (n=8)

Fig. 5. Bike speeds by pack, Lausanne 2002



Effect of cycle intensity on run performance

Variation of intensity by 20-40 % of average over a 60 min TT has no effect on metabolism and performance in a subsequent run in relatively untrained subjects (Ramsey et al.,

2001)

) 30 min constant power vs variable power- then TR run (Vercruyssen et al., 2003to exhaustion. Last min of cycle at lower power, better result with stochastic condition.

(Suriano and Bishop., 2003) 500 KJ cycle at 81-85%, 86-90%, 91-95%or 96-100% control cycle TT plus 5 km run

23

Effect of cycle cadence on running

performance

Variation in FCC towards EOC w duration

(shift to TII?) (Lepers et al., 2000, triathletes only), tr a factor?

Select low cadence near end of cycle to prep for

run? (lower ST and V? cf. Gottshall & Palmer, 2000, 2003; Bernard et al., 2003)

24

• Extent of effect different after drafting/ non-drafting cycle (Hausswirth et al., 1999)

• Cadence effects (

Vercruyssen et al., 2002, 2003; Bernard et al. 2003; Suriano et al., 2003)

• Decreased submaximal exercise capacity

(De Vito et al., 1995)

• Increased VO2, VE and HR (Guezennec et al., 1996)

• Altered running mechanics in the initial stages of running off

the bike (Millet et al., 2000; Millet and Vleck, 2001).

Effect of the cycle section on the subsequent run

25

Relative differences in ability between the top athletes

26

Piacentini, M.F., Bianchini LA, Mingati C, Sias M, Di Castro A, Vleck V (2019). “Is the bike segment of modern Olympic triathlon more a

transition towards running in males than it is in females?” Special Issue (Vleck V, Piacentini MF, Hoeden D, Eds.): Maximising triathlon health

and performance: the state of the art.” Sports 2019, 7(4), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7040076 - 29 Mar 2019

27




28




29




30

4.40

4.60

4.80

5.00

5.20

5.40

5.60

5.80

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

Run distance (m)

Run s

peed (

m.s-1)

1st pack 2nd pack 3rd pack

Fig. 6. Run speed (x ± SE, m.s-1) by pack no in bike lap 1.

27

Vleck et al. (2008).

JSAMS 11(4): 424-432



3.50

3.70

3.90

4.10

4.30

4.50

4.70

4.90

5.10

5.30

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

Run distance (m)

Speed (

m.s

-1)

1st pack (n=10) 2nd pack (n=8) 3rd pack (n=4) 4th pack (n=2) 5th pack (n=8)

Fig. 7. Run speed (x ± SE, m.s-1) by pack no in bike lap 1.

28

Vleck et al. (2008).

JSAMS 11(4): 424-432



Photo V. Vleck

All athletes show the highest degree of individual effort

in the running event.

33

Piacentini, M.F., Bianchini LA, Mingati C, Sias M, Di Castro A, Vleck V (2019). “Is the bike segment of

modern Olympic triathlon more a transition towards running in males than it is in females?” Special

Issue (Vleck V, Piacentini MF, Hoeden D, Eds.): Maximising triathlon health and performance: the state

of the art.” Sports 2019, 7(4), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7040076 - 29 Mar 2019

The Take Home Messages

34

• Train your T2 transitions - especially if you are

weaker overall than the other athletes in your field

• Swimming and cycling seem to affect overall

performance more in females than males

• Pacing strategy, particularly within the triathlon run

and especially so in males, can be key to

performance

Physiology of Triathlon I · 2019. 10. 29. · • Best to draft 0 and 50 cm behind lead swimmer or...

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