Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, SWEDEN.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2021 Dec 1;53(12):2553-2564. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002739.
This study aimed to describe changes in laboratory-assessed anthropometric and physiological characteristics, training volumes, and competitive performance in national development-team cross-country skiers over a 25-month period, and to analyze whether changes in competitive performance could be predicted by changes in laboratory-assessed qualities and training volumes.
Data collected over 25 months from 30 national development-team cross-country skiers (14 women, 16 men; age, 18-23 yr) were analyzed retrospectively using multivariate statistics. Anthropometric and physiological characteristics were assessed via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and incremental roller-ski treadmill tests, respectively. Total training volumes and distributions of low- and high-intensity training were analyzed from online training diaries, and competitive performance was determined by International Ski Federation (FIS) distance and sprint points.
Whole- and upper-body lean mass increased in the full cohort of skiers (n = 30; both P < 0.05), whereas lower-body lean mass, whole-body fat mass, speed and oxygen uptake (V˙O2) at a blood lactate concentration (BLa) of 2 and 4 mmol·L-1, as well as time-trial completion time, power output, and peak V˙O2, improved in the women only (all P < 0.05). Valid predictive models were identified for female skiers' best FIS distance points (R2 = 0.81/Q2 = 0.51) and changes in FIS distance points (R2 = 0.83/Q2 = 0.54), with body mass, fat mass, lean mass, V˙O2peak, and speed at a BLa of 4 mmol·L-1 identified as consistently important variables for projection.
The valid prediction of competitive performance was achieved for women only in distance events. This study suggests that improvements in body composition and aerobic capacity may be more beneficial for elite female development-level skiers than for their male counterparts. These results have implications for athlete selection and performance development.
本研究旨在描述 25 个月期间，国家队越野滑雪运动员的实验室评估人体测量学和生理学特征、训练量和竞技表现的变化，并分析竞技表现的变化是否可以通过实验室评估的指标和训练量的变化来预测。
本研究回顾性分析了 30 名国家队越野滑雪运动员（14 名女性，16 名男性；年龄 18-23 岁）25 个月的数据，使用多元统计分析。通过双能 X 射线吸收法和递增式滑行车跑步机测试分别评估人体测量学和生理学特征。从在线训练日记中分析总训练量和低强度与高强度训练的分布，国际滑雪联合会（FIS）距离和冲刺点确定竞技表现。
整个队列的滑雪运动员的全身和上体瘦体重增加（n = 30；均 P < 0.05），而下肢瘦体重、全身脂肪量、速度和血乳酸浓度（BLa）为 2 和 4 mmol·L-1 时的摄氧量（V˙O2）以及计时赛完成时间、功率输出和峰值 V˙O2，仅在女性中得到改善（均 P < 0.05）。确定了女性滑雪运动员最佳 FIS 距离点（R2 = 0.81/Q2 = 0.51）和 FIS 距离点变化（R2 = 0.83/Q2 = 0.54）的有效预测模型，体质量、脂肪量、瘦体重、V˙O2peak 和 BLa 为 4 mmol·L-1 时的速度被确定为重要的预测变量。
仅在女子距离项目中实现了竞技表现的有效预测。本研究表明，身体成分和有氧能力的提高可能对精英女子发展水平的滑雪运动员比男性更有益。这些结果对运动员选拔和表现发展具有重要意义。
