2014 presented South Africa’s top cyclists with a ‘new’ challenge as some of the major races took place at moderate altitudes. The first race of the 2014 MTN National MTB series took place in Dullstroom and one of the SA XCO Cup Series races took place at the Afriski resort. These two locations would have compounded the usual stress of racing with the additional stress of lower oxygen availability. In this article I will explain the physiology behind competing at altitude and also offer some practical tips on how to minimise the potential detrimental effects of competing in this oxygen-starved environment. Click here to view the article
