Author(s): ALJUBAIRI, M., ALGHANNAM, A.F., ALOBAID, D.S., ALDARWISH, S.F., ALDAKKAN, A., ALOTHMAN, S.A., Institution: PRINCESS NOURAH BINT ABDULRAHMAN UNIVERSITY, Country: SAUDI ARABIA, Abstract-ID: 1841

INTRODUCTION:
The growing enthusiasm for competitive cycling, especially among Saudi women, aligns with the expansion of Saudi Arabias sports industry as part of the nations 2030 vision. Yet, there is a paucity of research focusing on the anthropometric and physiological characteristics of Saudi female cyclists, critical for optimizing performance and talent identification. This study aimed to explore anthropometric and physiological profiles of Saudi female cyclists, assisting in the design of individualized fitness evaluations and performance enhancement plans, and performance optimization strategies in line with the growing inclusivity in sports
METHODS:
A cross-sectional analysis was dedicated to examining registered female cyclists through a comprehensive suite of tests. These tests aimed to map out their physical and physiological attributes, covering areas such as body measurements, body composition, hemoglobin counts, neuromuscular feedback, flexibility, bone density, muscular power, cardiorespiratory fitness, and anaerobic capabilities.
RESULTS:
Seven Saudi female cyclist athletes, comprising a considerable subset of the 47 registered nationally, presented mean values across various metrics: an age of 31 years (SD ± 4.35) and a BMI of 23.30 kg/m^2 (SD ± 2.42). On average, they engaged in 4.7 (SD ± 1.97) weekly cycling sessions, spanning a distance of 192.28 km (SD ± 80.57). Muscle strength assessments yielded a mean extension MVC of 207.14 NM (SD ± 35.39) and flexion MVC of 94.42 NM (SD ± 21.72). The mean peak anaerobic power reached 575.74 watts (SD ± 92.80), while flexibility and reaction times averaged 43.21 cm (SD ± 6.25) and 0.52 seconds (SD ± 0.13), respectively. Cardiorespiratory evaluations showed a mean VO2 peak of 47.42 ml.kg-1.min-1, reaching up to 61.7 ml.kg-1.min-1, and an average maximum heart rate of 177.83 bpm (SD ± 6.09). The mean maximal lactate concentration was 16.46 mmol/l (SD ± 3.28). Sleep analysis showed a division between participants who received less than 7 hours of sleep and those who obtained 7 or more hours
CONCLUSION:
Compared to elite teenage cyclists from the U.S. and top junior cyclists from Italy, our Saudi female cyclists demonstrated notable levels of aerobic capacity and muscle strength. The study also highlights the practicality of conducting in-depth physiological and anthropometric assessments of female cyclists in Saudi Arabia, providing valuable information on their unique fitness and performance enhancement requirements