The study looked at the performance of 11 professional and nine non-professional road cyclists. Both groups of cyclists were asked to complete a 20-minute cycling time trial in the laboratory on two different occasions. On one of the occasion, the cyclists carried out a computerised cognitive task, which was designed to test inhibitory control and induce mental fatigue, after which they completed the cycling time trial.
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Two main findings were seen between the groups. Primarily, the elite cyclists performed better in the cognitive task compared to the group of recreational cyclists, indicating that the professionals had better inhibitory control. Inhibitory control is one the factors that helps an individual carry out a goal-related behaviour, and is associated with will-power and concentration.
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The second finding was more surprising. The =non-professional cyclists’ performance worsened in the time trial after they completed the cognitive task, but the professional cyclists’ performance after the cognitive task was not significantly different. This suggests that the elite cyclists were more resistant to mental fatigue, and did not let it affect their cycling performance.
The authors concluded that these characteristics are psychobiological, and it is unclear whether they are genetic, acquired through training and lifestyle, or come from a combination of the two. This new finding could be used to shed light onto what gives some cyclists that ‘upper-edge’, and provide a new focus to improve personal performance.
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Read the full findings, which were published on PlosOne, here
The Ironman Weymouth race organisers have told 220 that there are just 100 spots left for their debut Ironman 70.3 race in Weymouth on Sunday 11 September.
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The major race brand have also confirmed the bike course for the new addition to the M-Dot event calendar, with the Cerne Abbas bike stretch pictured above.
Starting and finishing from transition in the heart of Weymouth, the bike course will showcase the best of Dorset across either a 112 mile (IRONMAN) two lap route or a 56 mile (70.3) single lap. This one or two lap anti-clockwise route promises to provide “speed, hills and beauty across rolling countryside and some charming villages.”
Comprising just over 1,880m of elevation over the 2 laps, the 2,500 athletes will relish the spectator support to spur them on as they make their way from Weymouth via Osmington and through the picturesque villages of Puddletown, Piddlehinton and Cerne Abbas.
Notable changes have seen the removal of some of the smaller roads to offer a safer route for the larger number of participants anticipated. There will also be a new loop north of Dorchester, replicating some of the original IRONMAN Sherborne course in 2006.
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Full details including an interactive bike map are available IRONMAN Weymouth or IRONMAN 70.3 Weymouth. And a promo video is here
WEYMOUTH ROUTES
Ahead of this new bike route, the Weymouth races will commence with a 2.4 mile (IRONMAN) or 1 lap 1.2 mile (70.3) swim in Weymouth Bay. This will be a rolling start swim, as is now implemented across all UK events, to reduce congestion. All athletes will exit the water after the first 1.2 mile lap, with Ironman athletes re-entering for a second lap. Once the athletes have completed the bike course, the race concludes with either a 26.2 mile (IRONMAN) or 13.1 mile (70.3) run, comprising a 2 or 4 lap course respectively.
This multi-lap run will take the athletes around the town, harbour and the sea front. Lined with over 40 cafes, restaurants and bars, it offers outstanding spectator viewing and makes for an electric atmosphere to spur the athletes along to the finish line right up to the 8.5 hours (70.3) or 17 hours cut off time.
The event will mark the first time both an Ironman and a 70.3 race are held on the same day in Europe. Ironman Weymouth will have 30 qualifying slots to the 2017 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
Ironman 70.3 Weymouth will have 30 qualifying slots to the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. Professional athletes will compete for a total prize purse of $15,000 USD with the race offering P-500 KPR points as well.
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Online entry and further information is available for IRONMAN Weymouth or IRONMAN 70.3 Weymouth.
The Ironman Weymouth race organisers have told 220 that there are just 100 spots left for their debut Ironman 70.3 race in Weymouth on Sunday 11 September.
Advertisement
The major race brand have also confirmed the bike course for the new addition to the M-Dot event calendar, with the Cerne Abbas bike stretch pictured above.
Starting and finishing from transition in the heart of Weymouth, the bike course will showcase the best of Dorset across either a 112 mile (IRONMAN) two lap route or a 56 mile (70.3) single lap. This one or two lap anti-clockwise route promises to provide “speed, hills and beauty across rolling countryside and some charming villages.”
Comprising just over 1,880m of elevation over the 2 laps, the 2,500 athletes will relish the spectator support to spur them on as they make their way from Weymouth via Osmington and through the picturesque villages of Puddletown, Piddlehinton and Cerne Abbas.
Notable changes have seen the removal of some of the smaller roads to offer a safer route for the larger number of participants anticipated. There will also be a new loop north of Dorchester, replicating some of the original IRONMAN Sherborne course in 2006.
Full details including an interactive bike map are available IRONMAN Weymouth or IRONMAN 70.3 Weymouth. And a promo video is here
WEYMOUTH ROUTES
Ahead of this new bike route, the Weymouth races will commence with a 2.4 mile (IRONMAN) or 1 lap 1.2 mile (70.3) swim in Weymouth Bay. This will be a rolling start swim, as is now implemented across all UK events, to reduce congestion. All athletes will exit the water after the first 1.2 mile lap, with Ironman athletes re-entering for a second lap. Once the athletes have completed the bike course, the race concludes with either a 26.2 mile (IRONMAN) or 13.1 mile (70.3) run, comprising a 2 or 4 lap course respectively.
This multi-lap run will take the athletes around the town, harbour and the sea front. Lined with over 40 cafes, restaurants and bars, it offers outstanding spectator viewing and makes for an electric atmosphere to spur the athletes along to the finish line right up to the 8.5 hours (70.3) or 17 hours cut off time.
The event will mark the first time both an Ironman and a 70.3 race are held on the same day in Europe. Ironman Weymouth will have 30 qualifying slots to the 2017 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
Ironman 70.3 Weymouth will have 30 qualifying slots to the 2017 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. Professional athletes will compete for a total prize purse of $15,000 USD with the race offering P-500 KPR points as well.
Advertisement
Online entry and further information is available for IRONMAN Weymouth or IRONMAN 70.3 Weymouth.
Whether you’re an elite triathlete aiming to win a 70.3, or just wanting to complete your first triathlon, the age-old rule applies – race results don’t come without putting in the hard work beforehand. However, many of us overlook the fact that training sessions alone aren’t enough to determine performance – choices made about recovery after competitions or training could actually make the difference between a PB and a DNF.
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For a triathlete, understanding recovery is important as training involves intensive sessions in not one, but three different disciplines that make various different demands on the body. Sessions take their toll on mental and physical resources, but the regeneration that occurs after a session helps an athlete to become stronger and fitter. Most triathletes are aware they should timetable recovery into their training plans, yet despite its importance, recovery and rehabilitation hasn’t been viewed as an exact science – until now
Exercise science researcher professor Dr Alexander Ferrauti and sport psychologist professor Dr Michael Kellmann, in collaboration with researchers at Saarland University and the University of Mainz, have spent the past few years running a joint project trying to find the best recovery strategies for athletes after intensive training and competition sessions. The research was run to better understand the recovery process, and might help athletes and coaches choose effective strategies to optimise performance in the future.
For part of the project, scientists wanted to look at recovery after a number of different activities – part of their sample included elite athletes in Olympic training camps. They created training blocks and exercise programmes for a range of top athletes, including weightlifters and volleyball teams. Using blood tests, questionnaires and performance assessments, they studied how certain sports affect the body – and specifically how the body recovers from different sport sessions.
In another section of the research, the team looked at the effectiveness of different recovery methods after similar workout sessions. Active strategies, such as sport-specific stretches and cooling-down tasks were investigated, alongside other measures such as massages and ice baths. Interestingly, one result showed that while ice baths were linked to better performance tests, athletes reported feeling benefits from massages, which did not show this link. This highlights that biological markers should be taken into account alongside athletes’ subjective perceptions, as psychologically this can also influence the recovery process.
The results also reinforced that there is no ‘one size fits all’ for recovery, and that every athlete should choose recovery measures suited to their sport and also their personal preferences. However, as with training, recovery methods should be tried and tested long before competitions, and the body given time to acclimatise to new regimes.
Once the project has ended in late 2016, the organisers hope it will lay the foundations for more research into regeneration management, ultimately to create a tool that is sport-specific and can be used to pick the best recovery measures and rehabilitation methods for each discipline.
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What do you think? Is recovery ever going to be an exact science? Do you have tried and tested recovery methods that work for you? Let us know on Twitter, @220Triathlon
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
Whether you’re an elite triathlete aiming to win a 70.3, or just wanting to complete your first triathlon, the age-old rule applies – race results don’t come without putting in the hard work beforehand. However, many of us overlook the fact that training sessions alone aren’t enough to determine performance – choices made about recovery after competitions or training could actually make the difference between a PB and a DNF.
Advertisement
For a triathlete, understanding recovery is important as training involves intensive sessions in not one, but three different disciplines that make various different demands on the body. Sessions take their toll on mental and physical resources, but the regeneration that occurs after a session helps an athlete to become stronger and fitter. Most triathletes are aware they should timetable recovery into their training plans, yet despite its importance, recovery and rehabilitation hasn’t been viewed as an exact science – until now
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
Exercise science researcher professor Dr Alexander Ferrauti and sport psychologist professor Dr Michael Kellmann, in collaboration with researchers at Saarland University and the University of Mainz, have spent the past few years running a joint project trying to find the best recovery strategies for athletes after intensive training and competition sessions. The research was run to better understand the recovery process, and might help athletes and coaches choose effective strategies to optimise performance in the future.
For part of the project, scientists wanted to look at recovery after a number of different activities – part of their sample included elite athletes in Olympic training camps. They created training blocks and exercise programmes for a range of top athletes, including weightlifters and volleyball teams. Using blood tests, questionnaires and performance assessments, they studied how certain sports affect the body – and specifically how the body recovers from different sport sessions.
In another section of the research, the team looked at the effectiveness of different recovery methods after similar workout sessions. Active strategies, such as sport-specific stretches and cooling-down tasks were investigated, alongside other measures such as massages and ice baths. Interestingly, one result showed that while ice baths were linked to better performance tests, athletes reported feeling benefits from massages, which did not show this link. This highlights that biological markers should be taken into account alongside athletes’ subjective perceptions, as psychologically this can also influence the recovery process.
The results also reinforced that there is no ‘one size fits all’ for recovery, and that every athlete should choose recovery measures suited to their sport and also their personal preferences. However, as with training, recovery methods should be tried and tested long before competitions, and the body given time to acclimatise to new regimes.
Once the project has ended in late 2016, the organisers hope it will lay the foundations for more research into regeneration management, ultimately to create a tool that is sport-specific and can be used to pick the best recovery measures and rehabilitation methods for each discipline.
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What do you think? Is recovery ever going to be an exact science? Do you have tried and tested recovery methods that work for you? Let us know on Twitter, @220Triathlon
The sun was shining and historic German city of Regensburg was ready to welcome triathletes from all over the world to take on the inaugural Challenge Regensburg. But it would be home athletes, Germans Jan Rafael and Julia Viellehner that would take the victory.
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The race began with the 3.8km swim in Lake Guggenberger See before racing through the surrounding beautiful Bavarian countryside and the historic city’s streets, which were filled with a party atmosphere.
#challengeregensburg #wechselzone2 #run
British eyes were firmly on Joe Skipper who was hoping to win here after a fantastic performance at Challenge Roth two weeks ago where he broke the British Iron-distance record.
Sadly though a recent bout of food poisoning meant he wasn’t at full strength and he exited the water eight minutes behind the leader Sebastian Veith. From then Skipper never troubled the leaders and decided to retire on the beginning of the run, saying he felt weak and decided to just enjoy the swim and bike.
The bike leg had a 1,500 metre elevation and took the athletes through the beautiful Bavarian Forest Nature Park, and by mid-day temperatures rose to 24°C.
The first ascent began at 14km, where the athletes climbed to the highest point of the course at Brennberg. A fast descent and a long flat passage, which is only interrupted by a short climb at the southernmost point of the course, will allow athletes to speed up, before the course leads back towards Regensburg, before turning right at Donaustauf for the second bike lap which partly follows along the River Danube into Regensburg.
German Jan Rafael had a great T1 and started the bike leg in the lead, from then he never faulted. By the time he came to the run he had 13 minutes lead on fellow German Sebastian Neef and Chis Fischer from Denmark. However one KM into the run Fischer moved into second and started to gain on Rafael and at 36km mark was just 5 minutes behind but Rafael hung on for the victory, winning in 8:27:27 with Fischer taking 2nd in 08:31:30
The women’s race was won by fellow German Julia Viellehner, Julia in a time of 09:37:32, with Erika Csomor from Hungary in 2nd and Sylvia Felt, also from Germany in third.
Katherin Walther from Germany led after the swim with fellow German Nicole Woysch, in second but after 60km on the bike Woysch took the lead until the run when Walther overtook her again. However this was the end of the two athletes dominance on the race, as after 6km Csomor took the lead and by 16km Viellehner had moved up to second, and had Csomor in her sights. At 21.7km she finally overtook her, in the end winning by 07:32 from Csomor.
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Check out the results of Challenge Regensburg here
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
The sun was shining and historic German city of Regensburg was ready to welcome triathletes from all over the world to take on the inaugural Challenge Regensburg. But it would be home athletes, Germans Jan Rafael and Julia Viellehner that would take the victory.
Advertisement
The race began with the 3.8km swim in Lake Guggenberger See before racing through the surrounding beautiful Bavarian countryside and the historic city’s streets, which were filled with a party atmosphere.
#challengeregensburg #wechselzone2 #run
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
British eyes were firmly on Joe Skipper who was hoping to win here after a fantastic performance at Challenge Roth two weeks ago where he broke the British Iron-distance record.
Sadly though a recent bout of food poisoning meant he wasn’t at full strength and he exited the water eight minutes behind the leader Sebastian Veith. From then Skipper never troubled the leaders and decided to retire on the beginning of the run, saying he felt weak and decided to just enjoy the swim and bike.
The bike leg had a 1,500 metre elevation and took the athletes through the beautiful Bavarian Forest Nature Park, and by mid-day temperatures rose to 24°C.
The first ascent began at 14km, where the athletes climbed to the highest point of the course at Brennberg. A fast descent and a long flat passage, which is only interrupted by a short climb at the southernmost point of the course, will allow athletes to speed up, before the course leads back towards Regensburg, before turning right at Donaustauf for the second bike lap which partly follows along the River Danube into Regensburg.
German Jan Rafael had a great T1 and started the bike leg in the lead, from then he never faulted. By the time he came to the run he had 13 minutes lead on fellow German Sebastian Neef and Chis Fischer from Denmark. However one KM into the run Fischer moved into second and started to gain on Rafael and at 36km mark was just 5 minutes behind but Rafael hung on for the victory, winning in 8:27:27 with Fischer taking 2nd in 08:31:30
The women’s race was won by fellow German Julia Viellehner, Julia in a time of 09:37:32, with Erika Csomor from Hungary in 2nd and Sylvia Felt, also from Germany in third.
Katherin Walther from Germany led after the swim with fellow German Nicole Woysch, in second but after 60km on the bike Woysch took the lead until the run when Walther overtook her again. However this was the end of the two athletes dominance on the race, as after 6km Csomor took the lead and by 16km Viellehner had moved up to second, and had Csomor in her sights. At 21.7km she finally overtook her, in the end winning by 07:32 from Csomor.
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Check out the results of Challenge Regensburg here
Alistair Brownlee has continued Great Britain’s winning Rio Olympic form by taking the men’s triathlon title here in Rio today. The multiple world and European champ made his move over brother Jonny with 4km left of the run to cement his position as the greatest Olympic-distance athlete in history.
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The fifth Olympic Games triathlon took place in Rio with Alistair Brownlee aiming to become the first athlete in history to defend his Olympic crown. But where tri great Simon Whitfield, Hamish Carter and Jan Frodeno had failed, Alistair made history on the Copacabana after breaking his brother Jonny halfway through the run.
Ali was followed in 31secs later by Jonny, who went one better than at London 2012 to take silver. Henri Schoeman of South Africa was third.
HISTORY BECKONS
The non-wetsuit sea swim took place in water temperatures of 21C, with the heat outside rising swiftly from an overcast morning to 27C by 11am. The gun went and the fifth Olympic Games triathlon was a go, with the Brownlees, Brit Gordon Benson and unofficial swim domestique Richard Varga taking the right hand side to utilise the right to left currents.
Unusually three distinct swim groups formed, but the plan worked for the Brits and they entered the first buoy in the lead and escaped the first buoy carnage that followed. The pack would string out during the course of the swim, with Varga and Schoeman
Slovakia’s Richard Varga led out the swim followed closely by South Africa’s Henri Schoeman and the Brownlees. Mario Mola was 19sescs down on Varga when he excited, crucially missing the front swim pack.
By lap two of the bike, the Brownlees lead pack of cyclists had increased their lead to 40 seconds over Mario Mola, a minute over Richard Murray. At the halfway stage the lead was 1:13mins, with the two lead chase packs forming.
The Brownlees were pushing the pace on the bike, with plenty of athletes tucking in behind much to the Yorkshire’s boys annoyance (Jonny was clearly heard from the grandstand giving France’s Vincent Luis a piece of his mind). With the chase pack already over a minute in arrears, Mola and Murray would need to pull out huge performances to reach the podium.
A bike crash involving four athletes ended Gordon Benson’s hopes of finishing his debut Olympics, with the bell for the final lap showing little change in the gap from the lead to chase group.
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The Brownlees entered T2 with the leaders, alongside Luis, with Schoeman and Aaron Royle not far behind. The brothers had broken free by the first of four run laps, with Schoeman looking strong for third and Luis dropping off the pace. That lead over Schoeman was 13secs by 5km, with the fight coming down to which Brownlee brother would take the title.
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That would be decided early on lap three as Ali made his move surprisingly early, ruthlessly leaving Jonny trailing by 15secs by the end of the third of four run laps. Alistair’s relentless pace saw him hit the finish at 1:45:01 (and this having strolled the finishing straight) with Jonny 6secs behind.
Alistair Brownlee has continued Great Britain’s winning Rio Olympic form by taking the men’s triathlon title here in Rio today. The multiple world and European champ made his move over brother Jonny with 4km left of the run to cement his position as the greatest Olympic-distance athlete in history.
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The fifth Olympic Games triathlon took place in Rio with Alistair Brownlee aiming to become the first athlete in history to defend his Olympic crown. But where tri great Simon Whitfield, Hamish Carter and Jan Frodeno had failed, Alistair made history on the Copacabana after breaking his brother Jonny halfway through the run.
Ali was followed in 31secs later by Jonny, who went one better than at London 2012 to take silver. Henri Schoeman of South Africa was third.
HISTORY BECKONS
The non-wetsuit sea swim took place in water temperatures of 21C, with the heat outside rising swiftly from an overcast morning to 27C by 11am. The gun went and the fifth Olympic Games triathlon was a go, with the Brownlees, Brit Gordon Benson and unofficial swim domestique Richard Varga taking the right hand side to utilise the right to left currents.
Unusually three distinct swim groups formed, but the plan worked for the Brits and they entered the first buoy in the lead and escaped the first buoy carnage that followed. The pack would string out during the course of the swim, with Varga and Schoeman
Slovakia’s Richard Varga led out the swim followed closely by South Africa’s Henri Schoeman and the Brownlees. Mario Mola was 19sescs down on Varga when he excited, crucially missing the front swim pack.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
By lap two of the bike, the Brownlees lead pack of cyclists had increased their lead to 40 seconds over Mario Mola, a minute over Richard Murray. At the halfway stage the lead was 1:13mins, with the two lead chase packs forming.
The Brownlees were pushing the pace on the bike, with plenty of athletes tucking in behind much to the Yorkshire’s boys annoyance (Jonny was clearly heard from the grandstand giving France’s Vincent Luis a piece of his mind). With the chase pack already over a minute in arrears, Mola and Murray would need to pull out huge performances to reach the podium.
A bike crash involving four athletes ended Gordon Benson’s hopes of finishing his debut Olympics, with the bell for the final lap showing little change in the gap from the lead to chase group.
The Brownlees entered T2 with the leaders, alongside Luis, with Schoeman and Aaron Royle not far behind. The brothers had broken free by the first of four run laps, with Schoeman looking strong for third and Luis dropping off the pace. That lead over Schoeman was 13secs by 5km, with the fight coming down to which Brownlee brother would take the title.
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That would be decided early on lap three as Ali made his move surprisingly early, ruthlessly leaving Jonny trailing by 15secs by the end of the third of four run laps. Alistair’s relentless pace saw him hit the finish at 1:45:01 (and this having strolled the finishing straight) with Jonny 6secs behind.
Brit ITU racer Mark Buckingham competed at the Rio Test Event in 2015. Here are his insights into where the Olympic Games races will be won… and lost
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The Swim Start
With a beach run in, strong swimmers won’t get away as quickly as usual. But once the race goes round the first buoy, expect things to quickly string out.
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The Swim
The swim is one lap of 1,500m, which gives the athletes near the front an extra advantage as the race lines out. Add to that the possibility of choppy water and rolling waves, and there’s a strong chance of an early break in both the men’s and women’s races. T1 is a short run up the beach, but zaps the energy out of the legs.
The Bike Climb 1
Onto the bike, athletes will have about 200m of road before a sweeping 180° turn, so expect them to get their feet into their shoes before this. The next 1km is extremely fast to the foot of the very steep climb that hits a 20% gradient (Climb 1).
The Bike Climb 2
The descent from Climb 1 is very fast and has two technical bends, anyone trying to chase on to a pack will need to join by the foot of Climb 2, which the athletes will soon get over as it’s not hugely steep or long.
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The Run
On the run, expect to see athletes tucking behind each other for shelter, especially if there’s a strong coastal wind. The last 180° turn before the finish is still 1km to go, so anyone who kicks from here is either feeling very good, or very brave. Simply, this is one of the most demanding Olympic/ITU courses ever!