Triathlon is a sport that combines three disciplines: swimming, cycling, and running. These are carried out consecutively and in this order.
Scientific analysis of triathlon performance initially focused on long distance triathlon until the late 1990s, when it entered in the Olympic program. This led to an increase in short distance research, especially conducted by a group of French researchers, considered the pioneers [1]. Since then, many researchers have tried to point out triathletes’ characteristics by focusing on their physiological and anthropometric aspects or race strategies. However, many of these investigations did not focus on elite triathletes, including, in many cases, amateurs or high-performance aspirants.
Authors | N | Age (Years) |
Weight (kg) |
Height (cm) |
Σ Folds (mm) |
Fat (%) |
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Authors | Laboratory Test | N | Age (Years) |
Weight (kg) |
VO2max (mL·kg−1·min−1) |
VO2max (L·min−1) |
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González-Parra et al. [13] | 2 ♀ | 23.0 ± 4.2 | 54.5 ± 3.3 | 168.5 ± 9.2 | - | 16.6 ± 0.7 | ||||||
Bernard et al. [28] | Cycle ergometer | 3 ♀ | 26.9 ± 4.7 * | 55 ± 2.6 | 67.3 ± 0.7 | - | ||||||
Schabort et al. [12] | 5 ♀ | 25 ± 7 | 59.3 ± 5.8 | 167 ± 4.2 | ||||||||
Schabort et al. [12 | - | ] | Cycle ergometer | 19.5 ± 2.4 | ||||||||
5 ♀ | 25 ± 7 | 59.3 ± 5.8 | 61.3 ± 4.6 | 3.6 ± 0.4 | Canda et al. [9] | 26 ♀ | 25.6 ± 4.3 | 53.8 ± 3.8 | 163.2 ± 5.4 | 67.7 ± 17.6 | ||
Millet and Bentley [11] | (8) | 19.8 ± 3.1 | ||||||||||
Cycle ergometer | 9 ♀ | 27.9 ± 5.0 | 60.3 ± 6.6 | 61.0 ± 5.0 | 3.7 ± 0.4 | Millet and Bentley [11] | 9 ♀ | 27.9 ± 5.0 | 60.3 ± 6.6 | 167.2 ± 5.4 | - | 21.2 ± 2.9 |
Ackland et al. [7] | 19 ♀ | 29.0 ± 3.0 | 59.3 ± 4.7 | 168.3 ± 4.4 | ||||||||
Le Meur et al. [33] | Cycle ergometer | 6 ♀ | 27 ± 4 | 57 ± 5 | 60.9 ± 7.0 | - | 62.8 ± 13.4 (8) | - | ||||
Díaz et al. [15] | Cycle ergometer | 6 ♂ | 24 ± 5.6 | 71.2 ± 8.7 | 77.8 ± 3.6 | - | Laurenson et al. [23] | 10 ♀ | 27.1 ± 3.5 | |||
Cycle ergometer | 6 ♂ | 56.4 ± 6.1 | 167.0 ± 6.8 | 25.9 ± 9.4 | (4) | - | ||||||
24.8 ± 5.6 | 71.9 ± 6.8 | |||||||||||
Hoffmann et al. | ||||||||||||
[ | ||||||||||||
18 | ||||||||||||
] | ||||||||||||
Treadmill | ||||||||||||
11 ♂ | ||||||||||||
23.4 ± 2.8 | ||||||||||||
74.5 ± 4.3 | ||||||||||||
72.0 ± 4.3 | 5.5 ± 0.3 | |||||||||||
Hue [24] | Treadmill | 8 ♂ | 24.7 ± 2.1 | 71.4 ± 7.3 | 71.8 ± 7.6 | - | ||||||
Baldari et al. [29] | Treadmill | 8 ♂ | 21 ± 1 | 73 ± 4 | 69.7 ± 4.7 | - | ||||||
Hue et al. [32] | Treadmill | 5 ♂ | 25.7 ± 1 | 71.6 ± 3.3 | 69.5 ± 1 | - |
Authors | Laboratory Test | N | Age (Years) |
Weight (kg) |
VT2 (mL·kg−1·min−1) |
VT2 (%VO2max) |
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Authors | Laboratory Test | N | Age (Years) |
Weight (kg) |
HRmax (bpm) |
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Millet and Bentley [11] | Cycle ergometer | 9 ♀ | 27.9 ± 5.0 | 60.3 ± 6.6 | ||||||||||
Bernard et al. [28 | - | ] | Cycle ergometer | 80.5 ± 7.9 | ||||||||||
77.4 ± 4.6 | ||||||||||||||
- | ||||||||||||||
Werneck et al. [4] | 56 ♀ | |||||||||||||
Díaz et al. | 27.7 ± 4.1 | [ | 54.2 ± 4.5 | 167 ± 6 | 16- | - | ||||||||
] | Cycle ergometer | 5 ♂ | 24.8 ± 5.6 | 71.9 ± 6.8 | 77.6 ± 5.1 | 4.9 ± 0.2 | Olaya and Cejuela | |||||||
3 ♀ | 26.9 ± 4.7 * | 55 ± 2.6 | 185.7 ± 13.1 | Zapico et al. [22] | Cycle ergometer | 9 ♂ | 26 ± 2 | 67.8 ± 2.1 | - | 86.2 ± 1.6 | ||||
Millet y Bentley [11] | Cycle ergometer | 9 ♀ | 27.9 ± 5.0 | 60.3 ± 6.6 | 184.3 ± 7.1 | Millet and Bentley [11] | Cycle ergometer | 9 ♂ | 24.8 ± 2.6 | 70.2 ± 5.2 | - | 83.9 ± 4.5 | ||
Millet y Bentley [11] | Cycle ergometer | 9 ♂ | 24.8 ± 2.6 | 70.2 ± 5.2 | 187.6 ± 8.9 | [20] | 4 ♂ | 22.5 ± 1.9 | 71.4 ± 4.2 | 184 ± 41 | 34.4 ± 1.8 (6) | 6.5 ± 0.5 | ||
Koury et al. [19] | 10 ♂ | 29 ± 10 | 69 ± 4 | 174 ± 5 | - | 7 ± 2 | ||||||||
Zapico et al. [22 | ||||||||||||||
Gonzalez-Haro et al. [17] | Cycle ergometer | 6 ♂ | 25.3 ± 4.2 | 69.9 ± 4.6 | - | 83 ± 5 | ||||||||
Díaz et al. [15] | Cycle ergometer | 6 ♂ | 24 ± 5.6 | 71.2 ± 8.7 | 186 ± 3 | Díaz et al. [16] | Cycle ergometer | 5 ♂ | 24.8 ± 5.6 | 71.9 ± 6.8 | - | 81.0 ± 4.4 | Hue et al. [31] | Cycle ergometer |
Cycle ergometer | 6 ♂ | 24.8 ± 5.6 | 71.9 ± 6.8 | 184 ± 4 | Olaya and Cejuela [20] | Treadmill | 4 ♂ | 22.5 ± 1.9 | 71.4 ± 4.2 | 64 ± 2.94 | 6 ♂ | |||
Zapico et al. | 87.94 ± 1.59 | |||||||||||||
[22] | Cycle ergometer | 9 ♂ | 26 ± 2 | 67.8 ± 2.1 | 183 ± 5 | 21.8 ± 2.4 | 69.9 ± 7.3 | 75.9 ± 5.2 | 5.3 ± 0.4 | ] | ||||
Baldari et al. [29] | Treadmill | 8 ♂ | ||||||||||||
Bernard et al. [28] | Cycle ergometer | 21 ± 1 | 73 ± 4 | 52.9 ± 4 | 5 ♂ | 26.9 ± 4.7 * | 67 ± 5 | - | 180.8 ± 5.4 | |||||
Hue et al. [32] | Cycle ergometer | 5 ♂ | 25.7 ± 1 | 71.6 ± 3.3 | 177 ± 3 | Hue et al. [30] | Cycle ergometer | 5 ♂ | 25.4 ± 0.8 | |||||
González-Haro et al. [17] | 72.2 ± 3.4 | 75.7 ± 2.3 | - | Cycle ergometer | 9 ♂ | 26 ± 2 | 67.8 ± 2.1 | 177 ± 20 | 42.8 ± 3.9 (6) | 7.3 ± 0.4 | ||||
6 ♂ | 25.3 ± 4.2 | 69.9 ± 4.6 | 176 ± 14 | Millet and Bentley [11] | Cycle ergometer | 9 ♂ | 24.8 ± 2.6 | 70.2 ± 5.2 | 74.3 ± 4.4 | 5.2 ± 0.3 | Gonzalez-Haro et al. [17 | |||
Hue et al. [31] | Cycle ergometer | 6 ♂ | 21.8 ± 2.4 | 69.9 ± 7.3] | 6 ♂ | 25.3 ± 4.2 | 69.9 ± 4.6 | 175.2 ± 4.5 | 38.9 ± 5.7 (6) | 7.6 ± 0.6 | ||||
174 ± 3 | Zapico et al. [22] | |||||||||||||
Díaz et al. [16] | Cycle ergometer | Cycle ergometer | 5 ♂ | 24.8 ± 5.6 | 71.9 ± 6.8 | González-Parra et al. [13] | 4 ♂ | 23.3 ± 2.9 | 66.7 ± 6.5 | 167.8 ± 4.4 | - | 7.8 ± 0.5 | ||
Díaz et al. [16] | 5 ♂ | 24.8 ± 5.6 | 71.9 ± 6.8 | 172 ± 3 | - | 8.3 ±0.4 | ||||||||
9 ♂ | Díaz et al. [15] | 6 ♂ | 24.8 ± 5.6 | 71.9 ± 6.8 | 180.2 ± 8.6 | - | 8.3 ± 0.4 | |||||||
26 ± 2 | 67.8 ± 2.1 | 72.9 ± 2.0 | 4.9 ± 0.2 | |||||||||||
172 ± 3 | Le Meur et al. [33] | Cycle ergometer | 6 ♂ | 30 ± 6 | 67 ± 5 | |||||||||
Laurenson et al. [23] | 71.7 ± 5.4 | Treadmill | 10 ♀ | 27.1 ± 3.5 | - | |||||||||
56.4 ± 6.1 | 186.6 ± 4.9 | Hue [24] | Cycle ergometer | 8 ♂ | 24.7 ± 2.1 | 71.4 ± 7.3 | 70.5 ± 6.5 | - | ||||||
Olaya and Cejuela [20] | Treadmill | 4 ♂ | 22.5 ± 1.9 | 71.4 ± 4.2 | 191 ± 9.3 | Schabort et al. [12] | Cycle ergometer | 5 ♂ | 23 ± 4 | 72.1 ± 4.7 | 69.9 ± 4.5 | 5.0 ± 0.4 | ||
Hue et al. [31] | Treadmill | 6 ♂ | 21.8 ± 2.4 | 69.9 ± 7.3 | 184 ± 5 | 6 ♂ | 24 ± 5.6 | 71.2 ± 8.7 | 180.0 ± 8.8 | - | 8.5 ± 0.6 | |||
Bernard et al. [28] | Cycle ergometer | 5 ♂ | 26.9 ± 4.7 * | 67 ± 5 | 69.8 ± 5.3 | |||||||||
Hue et al. [32 | ] | Treadmill | 5 ♂ | Schabort et al. [12] | 5 ♂ | 23 ± 4 | 72.1 ± 4.7 | 181 ± 1.6 | - | 9.7 ± 2.4 | ||||
Gonzalez-Haro et al. [17] | Cycle ergometer | 6 ♂ | 25.3 ± 4.2 | 69.9 ± 4.6 | 64.7 ± 5.7 | 4.6 ± 0.3 | Canda et al. [9] | 65 ♂ | 26.0 ± 4.3 | 68.5 ± 5.0 | 178.0 ± 5.2 | 48.4 ± 9.4 (8) | 9.9 ± 2.2 | |
Hue et al. [32] | Cycle ergometer | 5 ♂ | 25.7 ± 1 | 71.6 ± 3.3 | 64.4 ± 1.2 | - | Chollet et al. [14] | |||||||
González-Parra et al. | 6 ♂ | [13]24.7 ± 1.3 | 69.3 ± 1.9 | Treadmill | 2 ♀ | 23.0 ± 4.2177.5 ± 2.0 | - | 10.1 ± 0.8 | ||||||
54.5 ± 3.3 | 74.0 ± 0.1 | - | Millet and Bentley [11] | 9 ♂ | ||||||||||
Laurenson et al. | 24.8 ± 2.6 | [23] | 70.2 ± 5.2 | 177.9 ± 4.8 | - | 10.4 ± 2.1 | ||||||||
Treadmill | 10 ♀ | 27.1 ± 3.5 | 56.4 ± 6.1 | 65.6 ± 6.0 | - | Hoffmann et al. [18] | 11 ♂ | 23.4 ± 2.8 | 74.5 ± 4.3 | 187.0 ± 2.90 | ||||
Schabort et al. [12] | Treadmill | 5 ♀ | 25 ± 7 | 59.3 ± 5.8 | - | 10.7 ± 1.4 | ||||||||
63.2 ± 3.6 | 3.7 ± 0.3 | Park et al. [21] | 8 ♂ | 23.5 ± 3.6 | 66.0 ± 5.1 | |||||||||
Hue et al. [31] | Treadmill | 174.4 ± 4.9 | - | 11.8 ± 0.5 | ||||||||||
25.7 ± 1 | 71.6 ± 3.3 | 6 ♂ | 21.8 ± 2.4 | 69.9 ± 7.3 | Ackland et al. [7] | 19 ♂ | 26.3 ± 4.4 | 72.6 ± 6.0 | 180.1 ± 5.9 | 48.3 ± 10.2 (8) | - | |||
182 ± 5 | Hue [24] | 8 ♂ | 24.8 ± 2.1 | 71.4 ± 7.3 | 180.5 ± 9.3 | 22.3 ± 0.5 (4) | - | |||||||
Werneck et al. [4] | 55 ♂ | 28.3 ± 4.2 | 67.6 ± 5.3 | 180 ± 6 | - | - |
78.5 ± 3.6 | ||||||
5.5 ± 0.3 | ||||||
Hue et al. | ||||||
[ | ||||||
30 | ||||||
] | ||||||
Treadmill | ||||||
5 ♂ | ||||||
25.4 ± 0.8 | ||||||
72.2 ± 3.4 | ||||||
76.3 ± 3.2 | ||||||
- | ||||||
González-Parra et al. [13] | Treadmill | 4 ♂ | 23.3 ± 2.9 | 66.7 ± 6.5 | 76.0 ± 6.9 | - |
Schabort et al. [12] | Treadmill | 5 ♂ | 23 ± 4 | 72.1 ± 4.7 | 74.7 ± 5.3 | 5.3 ± 0.5 |
Olaya-Cuartero and Cejuela [20] | Treadmill | 4 ♂ | 22.5 ± 1.9 | 71.4 ± 4.2 | 72.8 ± 2.2 | - |
The main findings of the Cuba-Dorado et al. [36] indicate that there are physiological, biomechanical, neuromuscular, tactical parameters, etc., that could be related to successful triathlon performance in competitions.
Competition Age. It seems that the optimal age for female and male triathlon performance is about 30. However, continuous updates in this regard are essential due to the results achieved in recent years by young triathletes.
Anthropometric profile. The anthropometric profile of elite triathletes does not seem to be defined by height or weight, mainly due to the diversity of profiles. However long segments or low-fat levels can facilitate performance in any of the disciplines.
Physiological profile. Triathletes’ main physiological adaptations are typical of an endurance sport. One of the most studied parameters is the VO2max. Female elite triathletes’ relative VO2max values are around 67.3 ± 23.79 mL·kg−1·min−1, while males usually exceed 70 mL·kg−1·min−1. The VT2 has also been widely studied in elite triathletes, reporting values over 80% of VO2max for females and 84.41% ± 2.72% of VO2max for males. However, being a long-duration sport, it can be observed that in competitions and/or simulations, HR and [La] are quite high. This may indicate that the interaction and differentiated muscular involvement between the swimming, cycling and running segments allows very well-trained triathletes to maintain very high ranges of effort for long periods of time.
Biomechanical and neuromuscular factors. The fact that the swimming takes places in open environments means that there are differentiating aspects to consider regarding to swim in a pool. The cycling segment in elite triathlon is characterized by a variable power with high intensity short-duration peaks. The running segment is influenced by the previous disciplines; however, highly experienced triathletes can adapt themselves to this last segment, despite the high levels of fatigue accumulated, so that it affects them as little as possible.
Tactical Strategy. The increasing importance of shorter distances (i.e., team relay or sprint distance) for the World Triathlon makes triathletes’ competition strategy very changeable, which affects the relative importance of each discipline. Therefore, elite triathletes need to have good performance in all disciplines to be able to face any international level race with confidence.
Interaction between disciplines. The main difference between elite and less experienced triathletes is their ability to adapt to running with high levels of fatigue caused by previous cycling in a way that affects the running segment as little as possible.