Citation

Mateo-March M, Blasco-Lafarga C, Doran D, Romero-Rodriguez RC, Zabala M. J. Sports Sci. Med. 2012; 11(3): 502-509.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Uludag University, Turkey)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The objectives of this study were 1) to describe the technical requirements of different tracks where classifying points are disputed for the Olympics as the European continent tracks (E), world championship competitions tracks (W), and Olympic Games track -Beijing, 2008- (O); and 2) to compare and establish differences or similarities between the three previous contexts. The sample used for this study was made of the 8 best qualifying male athletes from each competition (n = 48) during the 2007 and 2008 seasons (pre-Olympic and Olympic years). A descriptive design was used, based on systematic structured observation of the competitions filmed on video, paying attention to the different techniques used (overtaking skills, complete pedalling cycles and registered effort times). The results show that aerial techniques predominate over non aerial techniques on O and W type tracks more than on E tracks by similar to 20% (p < 0.001), pedaling cycles predominate in E vs. W and O by 11.85 and 24.23% respectively (p <= 0.05), and effort times predominate in O vs. W and E by 6.50 and 12.94% respectively (p <= 0.01). In conclusion, O and W tracks stand out because of the aerial component and greater technical complexity in comparison to E tracks, which has a decisive effect on the way the riders train in relation to the type of championship they aim to compete in.

Language: en