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Cited by 99Sports Performance and TrainingWinter Sports Injuries and PerformanceCardiovascular and exercise physiology

Energy system contribution during competitive cross-country skiing

Open access
Losnegard, Thomas·2019·European Journal of Applied Physiology
DOI 10.1007/s00421-019-04158-xPMC PMC6647095
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Abstract

Energy system contribution during cross-country (XC) skiing races is dependent on several factors, including the race duration, track profile, and sub-techniques applied, and their subsequent effects on the use of the upper and lower body. This review provides a scientific synopsis of the interactions of energy system contributions from a physiological, technical, and tactical perspective. On average, the aerobic proportion of the total energy expended during XC skiing competitions is comparable to the values for other sports with similar racing times. However, during both sprint (≤ 1.8 km) and distance races (≥ 10 and 15 km, women and men, respectively) a high aerobic turnover interacts with subsequent periods of very high work rates at ~ 120 to 160% of V O 2peak during the uphill sections of the race. The repeated intensity fluctuations are possible due to the nature of skiing, which involves intermittent downhills where skiers can recover. Thus, the combination of high and sustained aerobic energy turnover and repeated work rates above V O 2peak , interspersed with short recovery periods, distinguishes XC skiing from most other endurance sports. The substantially increased average speed in races over recent decades, frequent competitions in mass starts and sprints, and the greater importance of short periods at high speeds in various sub-techniques, have demanded changes in the physiological, technical, and tactical abilities needed to achieve world-class level within the specific disciplines.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00421-019-04158-x

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  • The mean aerobic contribution is estimated at ~70%-75% in sprints and 85%-95% in distance events.

    “The intermittent work pattern will be scenario‐specific for the given race and will depend on the course profile, but with the mean aerobic contribution estimated at ~70%–75% in sprints and 85%–95% in distance events.”

    From Carbohydrate Storage and Supplementation Strategies for Peak Performance in Cross-Country Skiing (2026) · cites this paper as [22]

    The Introduction’s “Energetics during XC skiing competitions” section reports approximately 75% aerobic energy supply in a three-minute sprint-like test. For distance races, it reports high aerobic turnover at about 90–95% of VO₂peak, not an 85–95% aerobic share of total energy; the claimed distance-event percentage is therefore not established by the cited passages. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • The instantaneous contribution from anaerobic energy systems during climbs or the end-spurt may account for up to ~40% in sprint events and 10%-20% in longer distance races.

    “In addition, the instantaneous contribution from anaerobic energy systems during climbs (followed by recovery on descents and drafting in mass starts) or during the end‐spurt may account for up to ~40% in sprint events and 10%–20% in longer distance races [9, 22].”

    From Carbohydrate Storage and Supplementation Strategies for Peak Performance in Cross-Country Skiing (2026) · cites this paper as [22]

    The Introduction (‘Energetics during XC skiing competitions’; page unavailable) reports substantial anaerobic energy supply in sprint skiing, including about 25% over a three-minute test. The Summary and conclusion (page unavailable) also describes high uphill work rates and recovery of oxygen deficits in both sprint and distance races. Neither passage supports the claimed instantaneous contributions of up to ~40% in sprints and 10%–20% in longer races. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Uphill sections pose the highest physiological load and constitute the performance-discriminating segments in cross-country ski races.

    “Notably, the latter poses the highest physiological load and constitutes the performance‐discriminating segments [21, 22].”

    From Carbohydrate Storage and Supplementation Strategies for Peak Performance in Cross-Country Skiing (2026) · cites this paper as [22]

  • Terrain-driven micro-pacing implies elevated work rates on climbs and opportunity for partial recovery on descents, yielding an energetic signature coupling high sustained aerobic turnover with repeated supramaximal bursts eliciting ~120%-160% of V̇O2peak on steep uphill sections.

    “This terrain‐driven “micro‐pacing” implies elevated work rates on climbs and opportunity for partial recovery on descents, thereby yielding an energetic signature that couples high sustained aerobic turnover with repeated supramaximal bursts (eliciting ~120%–160% of V̇O2peak on steep uphill sections) [22, 23].”

    From Carbohydrate Storage and Supplementation Strategies for Peak Performance in Cross-Country Skiing (2026) · cites this paper as [22]

  • In Olympic and World Cup races, athletes spend ~35% of race time on flat sections, ~15% on descents, and ~50% on uphill sections.

    “In Olympic and World Cup races, athletes spend ~35% of race time on flat sections, ~15% on descents, and ~50% on uphill sections [22].”

    From Carbohydrate Storage and Supplementation Strategies for Peak Performance in Cross-Country Skiing (2026) · cites this paper as [22]

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Authors
Losnegard, T.
Affiliations
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NO)
Corresponding author
Losnegard, Thomas
ORCID
Losnegard, Thomas
Venue
European Journal of Applied Physiology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2019-05-10
Volume
119
Issue
8
Pages
1675-1690
ISSN
  • 0020-9376 (ISSN-L)
  • 1439-6319
  • 1439-6327
DOI
10.1007/s00421-019-04158-x
PMC
PMC6647095
OpenAlex
W2944711220
Cited by
99
References
130
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 2
FWCI
2.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • European Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Winter Sports Injuries and Performance
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
cross-country skiing, energy system contribution, anaerobic energy system, track profile, skiing technique
MeSH terms
Energy Metabolism, Humans, Oxygen Consumption, Skiing, Athletic Performance

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