Project Coordinator: Dr. rer. nat. Katharina C. Wirnitzer
Mission
Since the age of 14, when I was given my first mountainbike (MTB), I was addicted to this new kind of cycling sport. Many years later this yielded to my first participation and completion of one of the most important MTB stage races in the world, the Transalp Challenge (TAC) 2003. This was the beginning of a new chapter in my life – the bikeeXtreme project was born. bikeeXtreme has been realized within the framework of my postgradual study of Sport Science to reach the degree of Doctor of Science (PhD) and peaked in the publication of my homonymous book: bikeeXtreme – Performance determining factors and vegan nutrition pattern to successfully complete the Transalp Challenge (ISBN: 978-3-8381-0912-1).
This project was the first to enable an investigation to
i) study an extreme MTB stage race,
ii) determine the exercise intensity of the TAC 2004,
iii) study a female athlete during this difficult multi–day MTB marathon race and
iv) report the vegan dietary intake during the TAC 2004.
Timescale
Preparation of the project (1st October 2003 – 31st March 2004) by a review of the literature available relating to MTB sports.
Start of project on 1st April 2004: Design and organisation of the field study as the core of data source.
Completion of the field study (16th – 24th July 2004) performed under the authentic race burden of the TAC 2004, officially held during 17th – 24th July 2004.
Collection of data sets recorded by subjects (25th July – 30th September 2004) and subsequently evaluation and analysis of data.
Presentation and promotion of results and findings at international scientific meetings and congresses in the area of Sport Science as well as publications in international peer–reviewed journals and publishers in the area of Sport Science, Sport Medicine and Physiology since 2005, continuing into 2009.
Being awarded of Young Reseracher Award, category “Sport Training” (University of Prague, 2005), and of Doktoratsstipendium (University of Innsbruck, 2006).
End of project was also the end of study on 21st April 2009.
Publications
Wirnitzer KC (2005) Athletic performance capacity in mountainbike sports under extremly strenuous more days lasting endurance impact – Performance–determining and performance–limiting factors during the hardest mountainbike race in the world. In: Kotli K (2005) Young European in Science. Prague, Czechoslovakia: 113 – 121
Wirnitzer KC (2005) Athletic performance capacity in mountainbike sports under extremly strenuous more days lasting endurance impact. In: Proceeding Book – 4th International Scientific Conference of Kinesiology, Science and Profession – Challenge for the Future (2005). Opatija, Croatia: 491 – 495
Wirnitzer KC (2005) Hemoglobin and hematocrit in mountain bike sports under extremly strenuous more days lasting endurance impact. In: Programme and Book of Abstracts – International Congress Mountain & Sports, Updating Study and Research from Laboratory to Field (2005). Rovereto, Italy: 56
Wirnitzer KC (2006) Hemoglobin and hematocrit in mountain bike sports under extremely strenuous more days lasting endurance impact. In: Abstract Booklet, BASES Inaugural Cycling Interest Group in Association with the 1st World Conference of Science in Cycling (Endurance Sport Science Conference), University of Birmingham on 29th/30th April 2006: Birmingham, UK: 8 – 9
Wirnitzer KC, Faulhaber M (2007) Hemoglobin and hematocrit during an 8 day mountainbike race: a field study. Letter to the Editor. J Sports Sci Med Vol 6 Issue 2 (serial online): 265 – 266. Available from URL:
http://www.jssm.org/vol6/n2/16/v6n2-16pdf.pdf
Wirnitzer KC, Kornexl E (2008) Exercise intensity during an eight–day mountain bike marathon race. Eur J Appl Physiol 104(6): 999 – 1005. Epub 2008 Sep 6. Available from both URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/j182jr15u2036674/?p=bb7dc0bbc6 , http://www.springerlink.com/content/j182jr15u2036674/fulltext.pdf?page=1
Wirnitzer KC (2009) Nutrition strategy during an eight–day mountainbike stage race – a case study. Vegan nutrition pattern of a female mountainbiker. Invited Book Chapter. In: Aerobic Exercise: Types, Duration and Health Benefits. Acceptance for publication confirmed on 18thFebruary 2009 (release is scheduled to be published in 2009 4th quarter). New York, USA: Novapublishers.
Wirnitzer KC (2009) Athletic performance capacity in mountainbike sports with extremely strenuous more days lasting endurance impact. Performance determining and performance limiting factors during the Transalp Challenge. Thesis. University of Innsbruck, Austria. In extracts permanently available from URL:
https://www.nurmi-study.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/thesis.pdf
Wirnitzer KC (2009) bikeeXtreme. Performance determining factors and vegan nutrition pattern to successfully complete the Transalp Challenge. ISBN: 978-3-8381-0912-1. Saarbrücken, Germany: SVH – Südwestdeutscher Verlag für Hochschulschriften.
Foreword of Franco M. Impellizzeri available from URL:
https://www.nurmi-study.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/foreword_franco_impellizzeri.pdf
Kornexl E, Hotter B, Wirnitzer K (2010) Beanspruchungsintensität von Freizeitmountainbiker(inne)n unter alters– und geschlechtsspezifischen Aspekten. Spectrum der Sportwissenschaften 22(2010)1. Vienna, Austria: 6-20
Wirnitzer KC & Kornexl E (2014) Energy and macronutrient intakte of a female vegan cyclist during an 8-day mountain bike stage race. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent); 27(1):42-45. ISSN: 0899-8280. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/08998280.2014.11929052?needAccess=true
Meetings & Conferences
Talks / Conference Papers
Prague, Tschechoslovakia (2005)
Young European in Science Conference
Optaija, Croatia (2005)
4th International Scientific Conference of Kinesiology, Science and Profession
Rovereto, Italy (2005)
International Congress Mountain and Sports
Birmingham, UK (2006)
1st World Conference of Science in Cycling
Berlin, Germany (2012)
VegMed, 9. Dezember 2012: Medizin und vegetarische Ernährung – wissenschaftliche Konferenz an der Charitè
Awards & Grants
Scientific award and researcher grant
Prague, Tschechoslovakia (2005)
Young Researcher Award, ranked 2nd within the catagory “Sport Training”
Innsbruck, Austria (2006)
Researcher Grant of the Leopold–Franzens University of Innsbruck (granted by the Principal of the University of Innsbruck, Austria, Manfried Gantner)
Public Awards
Gerlingen, Germany (2010) PeTA Progress Award
