Effect of Ultramarathon Cycling on the Heart Rate in Elite Cyclists
Ten elite male cyclists wore heart-rate monitors through the first Race Across the Alps in 2001 (525 km, 12 600 m of climbing). All finished, in a mean 27 hours 25 minutes at 18.6 km/h. Average heart rate was 126 beats/min against a mean HRmax of 186, a ratio of 0.68. Riders spent 53% of the race below 70% of HRmax, 25% at 70-80%, 19% at 80-90% and only 3% above 90%.
Intensity fell in every rider, from 0.86 of HRmax at the start to 0.66 at the end, and the authors describe a decline of about 10% every 10 hours as a general feature of ultramarathon cycling, placing the ultraendurance threshold at about 70% of HRmax.
Participants
n=10 elite male cyclists (abstract: "10 male elite cyclists"). Age and physiological values are not given in the abstract.
Protocol
Race: first Race Across the Alps, 2001; distance 525 km, cumulative altitude difference 12 600 m.
Heart rate monitored throughout the race.
Intensity bands as % of HRmax: recovery (<70%), moderate aerobic (70-80%), intense aerobic (80-90%), high intensity (>90%).
Key Results
All athletes finished. Mean racing time 27 hours 25 minutes; average speed 18.6 km/h.
Mean HRmax 186 beats/min; mean race heart rate 126 beats/min; HR(average)/HR(max) = 0.68, which the authors say probably corresponds to the ultraendurance threshold.
| Band | Share of race time | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery, <70% HRmax | 53% | 14 h 32 min |
| Moderate aerobic, 70-80% | 25% | 6 h 51 min |
| Intense aerobic, 80-90% | 19% | 5 h 13 min |
| High intensity, >90% | 3% | 49 min |
Predominantly moderate: recovery plus moderate aerobic = 78% of race time (21 hours 23 minutes).
Intensity declined significantly in all riders: HR(average)/HR(max) fell by 23%, from 0.86 at the start to 0.66 at the end. Heart rate was influenced by the course profile as well as by duration.
Authors' conclusion: a decrease of about 10% every 10 hours in heart-rate response is a general cardiovascular feature of ultramarathon cycling; the ultraendurance threshold lies at about 70% of HRmax in elite ultramarathon cyclists.
Practical Application
In 10 elite men racing the 525 km Race Across the Alps (12 600 m of climbing, 27 hours 25 minutes on average), heart rate averaged 0.68 of maximum, 78% of the race was spent below 80% of HRmax and only 3% above 90%, and the ratio fell from 0.86 at the start to 0.66 at the end, about 10% every 10 hours; the authors place the sustainable "ultraendurance threshold" at about 70% of HRmax. To "how hard can I ride a day-long race?": mostly below 80% of HRmax, averaging near 70%, and expect heart rate to sink as the hours pass.
A falling heart rate late in an ultra is the normal pattern here, not a sign of spare capacity. Inference, not tested here: a heart-rate target set from the first hours cannot be held late in the race, so do not chase it; ride late hours by perceived effort and, where available, power.
The start was ridden far harder than the race average (0.86 vs 0.68). Inference, not tested here: whether a more even start would have produced a faster finish is not addressed by this paper.
Not from this paper; the base's own practice: pace ultras from perceived effort and power, with heart rate as a context signal; the same falling-heart-rate, rising-effort pattern appears in a mountain running ultra (REF-664).
Limitations
n=10 elite men in one race; the pattern in amateurs, women or flatter events is not tested.
Heart rate only: no power, lactate or perceived exertion reported in the abstract, so the fall in heart rate cannot be attributed to lower effort vs cardiovascular drift.
The "ultraendurance threshold" is inferred from the race average, not measured in a test; how HRmax was determined is not given in the abstract.
Duration and course profile are confounded (the authors note both influenced heart rate).
Written from the abstract and record metadata only (full text not read).
How this entry was checked and changed
Why this level
observational, n=10 elite men, one race