Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Victorian Institute of Sport, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2024 May 25;34(5):253-257. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2023-0275. Print 2024 Sep 1.
Despite the increased popularity of female elite road cycling, research to inform the fueling requirements of these endurance athletes is lacking. In this case study, we report for the first time the energetics of a female world-tour cyclist competing in the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, an 8-day race of the Union Cycliste Internationale. The 29-year-old athlete presented with oligomenorrhea and low T3 before the race. Total daily energy expenditure assessed with the doubly labeled water technique was 7,572 kcal/day (∼4.3 physical activity levels), among the highest reported in the literature to date for a female. Crank-based mean maximal power was consistent with female world-tour cyclists (5 min, mean 342 W, 4.8 W/kg; 20 min 289 W, 4.1 W/kg). The average daily energy intake measured with the remote food photography method (Stage Days 1-7) was 5,246 kcal and carbohydrate intake was 13.7 g/kg (range 9.7-15.9 g/kg), and 84 g/hr during stages, and an average fat intake of 15% of daily energy intake. An estimated 2,326 kcal/day energy deficit was evidenced in a 2.2 kg decrease in body mass. Notwithstanding the high carbohydrate intake, the athlete was unable to match the energy requirements of the competition. Despite signs of energy deficiency preexisting (oligomenorrhea and low T3), and other further developing during the race (weight loss), performance was in line with that of other world-tour cyclists and a best personal performance was recorded for the last stage. This case study emphasizes the need for further research to inform energy requirements for female athletes' optimal performance and health.
尽管女性精英公路自行车运动越来越受欢迎，但针对这些耐力运动员的燃料需求的研究却很少。在这个案例研究中，我们首次报道了一位参加 2023 年环法女子自行车赛（国际自行车联盟的 8 天比赛）的世界巡回赛自行车运动员的能量学情况。这位 29 岁的运动员在比赛前出现了月经稀少和 T3 水平低的情况。用双标记水技术评估的每日总能量消耗为 7572 千卡/天（约 4.3 个体力活动水平），这是迄今为止文献中报道的女性中最高的水平之一。基于曲柄的平均最大功率与女性世界巡回赛自行车运动员一致（5 分钟，平均 342W，4.8W/kg；20 分钟 289W，4.1W/kg）。用远程食物摄影法（第 1-7 天比赛日）测量的平均每日能量摄入量为 5246 千卡，碳水化合物摄入量为 13.7 克/公斤（范围为 9.7-15.9 克/公斤），每个比赛阶段 84 克/小时，平均脂肪摄入量占每日能量摄入量的 15%。体重下降 2.2 公斤表明存在 2326 千卡/天的能量亏空。尽管碳水化合物摄入量很高，但运动员无法满足比赛的能量需求。尽管赛前已经存在能量不足的迹象（月经稀少和 T3 水平低），而且在比赛期间还有其他进一步的迹象（体重下降），但她的表现与其他世界巡回赛自行车运动员相当，并在最后一个赛段创下了个人最佳成绩。本案例研究强调需要进一步研究，以确定女性运动员最佳表现和健康所需的能量需求。
