Mountain time trial in handcycling:exercise intensity and predictors of race time in people with spinal cord injury

Study design: Cross-sectional analyses.Objectives: To analyze exercise intensity during a mountain time trial in handcycling and to determine predictors of race time.Setting: Eight Dutch rehabilitation centers and Austrian mountain.Methods: Forty participants with spinal cord injury (SCI; high lesion level (> T6): N = 11; low lesion level (Results: Mean race time was 4 h and 1 min (s.d.: 1 h and 24min), with no difference in race time between lesion groups. Mean exercise intensity during the race was 70 +/- 7% HRR. Exercise was mainly (73% of the race time) at a vigorous intensity (60-89% HRR), with 29% of the total time in the 80-89% HRR zone. No clear differences were found in exercise intensities between lesion groups. The strongest predictors for better race times were higher mean % HRR during race (R-2 - 57%), lower waist circumference (R-2 = 39%), higher POpeak (R-2 = 39%) and VO2peak (R-2 = 32%).Conclusion: A 20-km mountain time trial in a handcycle is intensive. Faster race times were achieved by those with a lower waist circumference, greater fitness level and ability to perform at higher average exercise intensities during the race. Level of SCI was not significantly associated with race time.