Health status and heat preparation at a UCI World Tour multistage cycling race

Objectives

To assess health status and heat preparation of cyclists at the 2019 Tour Down Under and determine the alignment of heat mitigation strategies with current recommendations.

Design

Cohort study.

Methods

Twenty-three (17 % participation rate) male World Tour cyclists from five teams and 10 countries completed a pre-competition questionnaire evaluating exertional heat illness (EHI) history, pre-race health status, and heat mitigation and recovery strategies use. Associations between arrival days pre-competition, years as professional, nationality, team, history of EHI symptoms and diagnosis on heat mitigation and recovery strategy utilisation were assessed.

Results

65 % of cyclists reported previously experiencing one or more EHI symptom (cramping: 48 %) and 22 % a diagnosis of heat stroke. In the 10 days preceding the race, 26 % experienced one or more illness symptoms. 65 % trained in the heat (acclimatisation 8–25 days; acclimation: 3–7 days), which was associated with team (P = 0.047, ϕ_c = 0.61), nationality (P = 0.009, ϕ_c = 0.86) and EHI symptoms history (P = 0.058, ϕ = 0.43). All cyclists had a hydration plan, with links to team (0.5–1.0 L·h⁻¹, P = 0.043, ϕ_c = 0.68) and EHI symptom history (1.0–1.5 L·h⁻¹, P = 0.048, ϕ = 0.476). Most had pre-cooling (87 %) and mid-cooling (83 %) strategies, most commonly cold beverages (75 %) and neck collars (78 %), respectively. All cyclists planned on using at least one recovery strategy (massage: 87 %).

Conclusions

Our data indicate good alignment with current recommendations for competing in the heat, particularly for hydration, cooling and recovery strategies. Whilst the proportion of cyclists engaging in heat acclimation/acclimatisation is encouraging, greater awareness on adapting and implementing heat training is required.