This research article investigates the influence of race tactics on performance in the heats of an international sprint cross-country skiing competition. The study examines data from 30 elite male skiers competing in a 1.7 km racecourse, combining analysis of their positions throughout the race with data on speed, technique, and kinematics captured using a GPS/IMU sensor system. The authors found that a strong correlation exists between the individual time-trial (STT) rank and the final race ranking, highlighting the significance of STT performance. The main performance determinant in the heats was found to be achieving a top position, particularly in the final uphill segment, where skiers with higher rankings employed longer cycle lengths and higher cycle rates in the diagonal sub-technique. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of race tactics in sprint cross-country skiing, suggesting that accurate course analysis and understanding individual strengths and weaknesses are crucial factors for success in the heats.
SOURCE
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0278552
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