La retirada deportiva en deportes colectivos: comparativa profesionales y amateurs

Recently researchers have increased their interest in the post sport life of the elite athletes (Park, Lavalle,and Tod 2013).  The unique economic features of each sport make interesting the comparison between them (Aquilina, 2013).The aims of this study were to analyse if the quality of the sport retirement (based on the perceived difficulties on different dimensions), the features of the sport retirement (planning, the willfulness, the type of career path and the academic level) were different between professional and amateur athletes. A cross-sectional descriptive study based on surveys was applied. An ad hoc questionnaire of closed question was answered by 127 retired elite athletes.  Fifty-three athletes were from a professional sport while seventy-four athletes were from a non-professional sport. The professional athletes experienced in a greater grade difficulties related with their working career, their family, their social network, and they lived the working integration less positively than the amateur athletes. The amateur athletes suffered more frequently economic difficulties. As it could be expected due the greater relation with sport, a higher number of professional athletes were exclusively devoted to sport, while more amateur sport combined their sport career with working. Moreover, among those who combined the sport career with studies, the professional athletes gave more frequently priority to sport.  Planning the retirement was more frequent among the professional athletes. No significant differences were found in relation with the willfulness of the sport retirement and the study level of the athletes.En los últimos tiempos han aumentado el interés por la vida de los deportistas tras su carrera en la élite (Park, Lavalle,y Tod 2013).La propia idiosincrasia económica de cada deporte hace que sean interesantes las comparaciones entre diferentes grupos (Aquilina, 2013).Los objetivos de este estudio fueron analizar si la calidad de la retirada deportiva, evaluada a partir de las dificultades percibidas en diferentes ámbitos, y las condiciones asociadas a la misma (planificación, voluntariedad, tipo de carrera deportiva y nivel de estudios) era diferente para los deportistas profesionales y amateurs. Se utilizó un estudio descriptivo transversal mediante encuestas, con muestreo intencional, administrando un cuestionario de preguntas cerradas, elaborado ad hoc. Participaron un total de 127 deportistas, de ellos 53 profesionales y 74 no profesionales. Los deportistas profesionales experimentaron en mayor grado dificultades relacionadas con su carrera profesional, con su familia, con su red social y vivieron su proceso de integración laboral de una forma menos positiva que los deportistas amateurs. Estos últimos, experimentaron en mayor grado dificultades económicas. Como cabría esperar debido a un vínculo más fuerte con el deporte, un mayor número de deportistas profesionales se dedicó exclusivamente al deporte, mientras que un mayor número de deportistas amateurs compaginaron deporte y trabajo. Además, entre aquellos que compatibilizaron el deporte con los estudios, más deportistas profesionales priorizaron el deporte. La planificación de la retirada fue más frecuente entre los profesionales y no se observaron diferencias en relación a la voluntariedad de la retirada ni en el nivel de estudios

Time trial exertion traits of cycling's Grand Tours

We examined 26 professional riders during time trial (TT) competitions of the Grand Tours of cycling (Tour de France and Vuelta Espana; 1997-2003) for the exertional characteristics of contending vs. non-contending (i.e., support) riders. We categorized HR time during TT into training impulse (TRIMP) defined from seasonal VO2max testing [Phase I (RCP]. Races were: Short TT (15 km; 48.12+/-8.7 km); Uphill TT (20.0+/-8.7 km) and Team TT (44.1+/-20.9 km). We observed statistically significant event-by-contender interactions for all TT (all, P<0.0001) except the short TT. During uphill TT, contenders exerted fewer total TRIMP (P<0.01), more Zone 3 TRIMP (P<0.05), and fewer Zone 2 TRIMP (P<0.01) vs. non-contenders. For individual TT, contenders accumulated more Total and Zone 3 TRIMP vs. non-contenders (all, P<0.05). Interestingly, during the team TT, contenders accumulated more Zone 3, and fewer Zone 2 TRIMP (all, P<0.05), despite having the opportunity to draft behind other riders while in paceline race formation. During TT events, contending riders compete at a level of exertion corresponding to a higher metabolic demand during the uphill TT, individual TT and team TT.1.589 JCR (2009) Q2, 27/73 Sport sciencesUE