REF-649 · Talsnes et al., 2024 · International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, · Paper
Simulated sprint XC skiing (16 national-level junior men): VO2peak and high-speed ability were the main determinants; VO2peak mattered more as the heats progressed to the final, and strength/power tests did not correlate
Participants
n=16 national-level male junior skiers (age 18.6 ± 0.8 y; VO2peak 67.6 ± 5.5 mL/min/kg).
Simulated on-snow sprint competition (1.3 km, skating): individual time trial (TT) followed by quarterfinal, semifinal and final, all completed by every skier. Plus submaximal and incremental roller-ski treadmill tests, on-snow maximal speed tests (uphill and flat) and strength/power tests.
Protocol
Cross-sectional correlational design: sixteen national-level male junior skiers performed a simulated on-snow sprint competition (1.3 km, skating style) — a time trial followed by quarterfinals, semifinals and final, all completed by every skier (from the abstract).
Additional tests: submaximal and incremental roller-ski treadmill tests (VO2peak, peak speed, relative heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, blood lactate, gross efficiency), on-snow maximal speed tests in uphill and flat terrain, and strength/power tests.
Analysis: correlation of each variable with performance in the time trial and in each subsequent final.
Key Findings
VO2peak and peak treadmill speed (incremental test), and relative HR, RPE, blood lactate and gross efficiency at submaximal intensity, all correlated with performance in the TT and the finals (mean r = .67, range .53-.86, all P < .05).
Relative VO2peak and submaximal relative HR / lactate correlated more strongly with the semifinal and final than with the TT (r .74 [.60-.83] vs .55 [.51-.60]) — the aerobic capacity gains importance as the heats accumulate.
Maximal speed uphill and on the flat correlated with performance in TT and finals (mean r = .63, range .38-.70).
Strength/power tests did not correlate significantly with sprint performance.
Practical Application
In 16 national-level junior male skiers, VO2peak and high-speed ability were the main determinants of a simulated sprint competition (r ~ .67 and .63), and VO2peak mattered more in the semifinal and final than in the time trial — sprint skiers need a high aerobic peak plus maximal on-snow speed, and the aerobic side is what carries them through repeated heats.
Gym strength/power scores did not predict sprint performance here; test on-snow maximal speed and treadmill VO2peak rather than relying on lifting numbers as sprint markers.
Inference, not tested: the earlier framing "anaerobic capacity / speed reserve / repeatability" is not what this study measured — it measured VO2peak, submaximal responses, maximal speed and strength/power.
Limitations
Cross-sectional simulated competition; correlations with performance, not a training intervention.
Junior men only (n=16), skating style, one course; no anaerobic-capacity measure.
How this entry was checked and changed
Content correction 2026-09-27
Entry claimed sprint performance was decided by "peak aerobic power + anaerobic/maximal-speed capacity + efficiency" with "speed reserve and repeatable high-intensity capacity" as the separators -> abstract: VO2peak and high-speed abilities were the main determinants (r ~ .67 / .63), with VO2peak more important toward the final; anaerobic capacity and "repeatability" were not measured.
Added that strength/power tests did NOT correlate with sprint performance (abstract), the population (n=16 national-level junior men, VO2peak 67.6) and the correlation values.
Tier set to 3 (national-level juniors) from "3-4 (competitive → elite)".
2026-09-28: added Protocol from the abstract (Europe PMC, DOI 10.1123/ijspp.2023-0268, PMID 37931616).