The physiological and psychological demands of amateur cyclists riding the full route of the Tour de France

Abstract

The Tour de France represents one of the pinnacles of endurance performance, involving 21 days of cycling, covering more than 3,500km and 50,000m of vertical ascent. Usually, the Tour de France is the sole domain of professional athletes, however, it has become more common for amateurs to complete the identical route in the same number of days as their professional counterparts. The aim of this investigation was to determine the physiological and psychological impact of completing the Tour de France in a cohort of amateur riders. A total of 16 riders completed the 2021 Tour de France route and participated in this study. Data were collected to characterise training in the preceding months (March - June 2021). Power and heart rate were collected throughout the event, alongside daily questionnaires regarding mood, perceived effort and sleep quality. Riders experienced ~300% increase in training load. Physiological markers indicative of overtraining and central nervous system dysfunction within the first four days of the Tour de France were present. There was a decline in both mean and maximal power and heart rate, which was evident throughout the 21 stages and is consistent with symptoms of non-functional overreaching. Compared to professionals, the present cohort experienced a higher TSS, TSS^.km^-1 and total work done per stage, indicating a higher relative intensity in amateur riders completing a 21-day cycling Grand Tour.