Morphological and physiological aspects in road cycling and mountain bike cross-country

Abstract

Briefly, the cycling races can be divided into two events: road cycling and time trial. And Mountain Biking (MTB) is characterized by being disputed in different types of tracks and off roads terrain. In the attempt to syntheses the recent scientific studies in cycling and MTB we have described this brief review on morpho-physiological aspects between road cyclists and mountain bikers. It is clear to see that flat terrain specialists are high and strong (height range from 180 to 185 cm, body mass 70-75 kg), with significant difference (p <0.05) to uphill specialists (175-180 cm, 60-66 kg). It is supposed that morphological features of uphill specialists are similar to mountain bikers (height 178 cm, body mass 65.3 ± 6.5 kg average and standard deviation). Some studies have verified that cyclists reached maximal power output (Wmax) significantly higher than mountain bikers in absolute and relative values to body mass (p <0.05). By contrast, others have showed that mountain bikers have Wmax and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) relative to body mass significantly higher than cyclists (P = 0.03). Therefore the conflict about the morpho-physiological characteristics of cyclists and mountain bikers are expanding besides methodological differences found in the studies, and perhaps are present on competitive level and training quality. In this regard, we understand that the interpretations of the information showed are able to use as references for coaches making training programs for cyclists and mountain bikers.