Differences in oxygen consumption and external power between male and female speed skaters during supramaximal cycling

Differences in performance levels between elite male and female endurance athletes are often explained by differences found in \(\dot V_{O_2 } \) max even when expressed in \(\dot V_{O_2 } \) max per kilogram lean body mass ( \(\dot V_{O_2 } \) /LBM). Such an explanation is only a matter of course when less or no difference exists in mechanical efficiency, anaerobic power and technical variables like friction constants between males and females, particularly during supramaximal exercises. In this study five elite male speed skaters were compared with five elite female speed skaters with respect to oxygen consumption and external power during a 3 min supramaximal bicycle ergometer test. The training background and training history of both groups were comparable. Although the elite males showed a 20% higher \(\dot V_{O_2 } \) /BW and 8% higher \(\dot V_{O_2 } \) /LBM (71.0 versus 65.0 1·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹) than the females, the female group showed the same mean external power P_c per kilogram bodyweight, and a surprising 12% higher P_C/LBM than the males (6.47 versus 5.79 W·kg⁻¹). Hence the female group delivered 22% more external power per liter of oxygen consumption. With the help of additional data from 14 male and 11 female sub-elite skaters it is shown that the differences between the elite groups are mainly due to sex differences. In the light of differences between men and women reported in other studies, it seems likely that the differences found in this study are due to a difference in mechanical efficiency which particularly occurs in supramaximal tasks. With respect to skating performance, it is concluded that the difference in performance level between elite male and female skaters will mainly be determined by differences in skating technique and in frictional losses, and not by differences in work capacity.