Tri-axial accelerometry has previously been shown to provide a reliable technique for the assessment of MMA specific activities during isolated training movements. However, this method has yet to be used for the analysis of competition demands. Six male MMA trained participants took part in a single simulated MMA bout each comprising of 3 rounds of 5 minutes with 1 minute rest between rounds. Participants wore a tri-axial accelerometer positioned between the T3-T4 vertebrae in a harness. Mean accumulated player load (PLd_ACC) and mean accumulated player load per minute (PLd_ACC.min^-1) were calculated for each round and for the bout overall. Capillary blood lactate samples were also taken prior to warm up, post warm up, upon completion of each round and 5 minutes post bout whilst video based time motion analysis was completed post hoc. PLd_ACC was 224.32 ± 26.59 au, whilst PLd_ACC.min^-1 was 14.91 ± 1.78 au. Participants had a mean post bout lactate of 9.25 ± 2.96 mmol.L whilst there was significant differences in lactate levels across all six sampling points. The group was found to have a work rest ratio (W:R) of 1:1.01 whilst a significant difference was found between bout winners and bout losers in terms of the amount of successful takedowns.

This article reports on the findings from a scoping review on eating disorders and disordered eating in competitive cycling. The review was informed by a scoping review methodological framework as well as the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) reporting guidelines. PubMed, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science were used to identify relevant literature for review. Fourteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the full review. A narrative synthesis was used to summarise the main findings and themes across the included literature. Findings from the review are presented under the following themes: cycling as an ‘at-risk’ discipline; power to weight ratio; energy requirements and risk of low energy availability; the social environment of cycling; nutrition support provision; relationship between eating disorders/disordered eating and exercise addiction; and recommendations made in identified literature. Overall, the literature suggests competitive cycling is a sport with a high prevalence of disordered eating and/or eating disorders and a sport with unique risk factors that contribute to this. Crucially, more research is needed in this area. The article concludes with the gaps in the literature highlighted, implications for future research, and applications to policy and practice suggested.

The aims of this study were to analyse the optimal cadence for peak power production and time to peak power in bicycle motocross (BMX) riders. Six male elite BMX riders volunteered for the study. Each rider completed 3 maximal sprints at a cadence of 80, 100, 120 and 140 revs · min⁻¹ on a laboratory Schoberer Rad Messtechnik (SRM) cycle ergometer in isokinetic mode. The riders’ mean values for peak power and time of power production in all 3 tests were recorded. The BMX riders produced peak power (1105 ± 139 W) at 100 revs · min⁻¹ with lower peak power produced at 80 revs · min⁻¹ (1060 ± 69 W, (F(2,15) = 3.162; P = .266; η² = 0.960), 120 revs · min⁻¹ (1077 ± 141 W, (F(2,15) = 4.348; P = .203; η² = 0.970) and 140 revs · min⁻¹ (1046 ± 175 W, (F(2,15) = 12.350; P = 0.077; η² = 0.989). The shortest time to power production was attained at 120 revs · min⁻¹ in 2.5 ± 1.07 s. Whilst a cadence of 80 revs · min⁻¹ (3.5 ± 0.8 s, (F(2,15) = 2.667; P = .284; η² = 0.800) 100 revs · min⁻¹ (3.00 ± 1.13 s, (F(2,15) = 24.832; P = .039; η² = 0.974) and 140 revs · min⁻¹ (3.50 ± 0.88 s, (F(2,15) = 44.167; P = .006; η² = 0.967)) all recorded a longer time to peak power production. The results indicate that the optimal cadence for producing peak power output and reducing the time to peak power output are attained at comparatively low cadences for sprint cycling events. These findings could potentially inform strength and conditioning training to maximise dynamic force production and enable coaches to select optimal gear ratios.

The purpose of this study was to investigate competitive cyclists’ helmet use, perceptions of sports-related concussion (SRC), and medical-care-seeking behaviors. A mixed-method approach was used with qualitative and quantitative data presented. The study comprised of a cross-sectional analysis of 405 competitive cyclists who completed an online survey. Results indicated that most participants believed a bicycle helmet protects against SRC (79.5%) and considerable numbers of participants would not seek medical care for potential head injury in scenarios where this would be recommended. It was also discovered that marketing of concussion reduction technology influences cyclists’ helmet-purchasing behaviors. With the data presented, it is recommended that governing bodies in cycling need to develop educational resources to address gaps in knowledge regarding SRC amongst cyclists. We also suggest that more independent research on concussion reduction technologies in bicycle helmets is needed, with advertising supported by clear scientific evidence to avoid negatively influencing head injury management and reporting behaviors amongst cyclists.