Key result
Endurance athletes show ~16 mL/min/kg higher VO2max than skill athletes across sports disciplines.
Why the study?
The 2020 ESC sports classification, based on cardiac morphological adaptations, may not fully reflect variations in athletes functional parameters.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,033)
No
Absolute Event Rate: 52.4% vs 36.3%
p-value: p=<0.0001
This study provides normative CPET data for elite athletes and suggests that the morphologically-based ESC sports classification may not fully capture the functional overlap observed between power and mixed disciplines.
Normative CPET values now available across elite sports; leaves open whether 2020 ESC morphological classification fully captures functional overlap.
Background: ESC sports classification in 2020, based on cardiac morphological adaptations, may not fully reflect also the variations in functional parameters of athletes. This study aims to characterize CPET-derived physiological parameters in elite athletes according to the ESC classification and evaluate whether this morphological classification also corresponds to a functional categorization. Methods: Elite athletes underwent pre-participation screening before the 2023 European Games and 2024 Olympic Games. Athletes were classified into four categories (skill, power, mixed and endurance). CPET was performed on a cycle ergometer using a ramp protocol, with measurements of VO2 max, heart rate, power output and ventilatory efficiency. Results: We enrolled 1033 athletes (46.8% females; mean 25.6 ± 5.2 years old) engaged in skill (14.1%), power (33.2%), mixed (33.3%) and endurance (19.4%) disciplines. O2 pulse showed an incremental significant increase (p < 0.0001) among sport categories (skill 14.9 ± 3.8 mL/beat; power 17.5 ± 4.6 mL/beat, mixed 19 ± 4.3 mL/beat and endurance 22.7 ± 5.8 mL/beat). The lowest V˙O2max was observed in skill disciplines (36.3 ± 7.9 mL/min/kg) whilst endurance ones showed the highest values (52.4 ± 9.7 mL/min/kg) (p < 0.0001). V˙O2max was higher in power compared to mixed (42 ± 7.7 mL/min/kg vs. 40.5 ± 5.8 mL/min/kg, p = 0.005) disciplines with an overlapping amount between some mixed and power disciplines. No differences were found for VE max (p = 0.075). Conclusions: Our study provided values of CPET parameters in elite athletes. Significant differences in CPET parameters were observed among different sports disciplines, with endurance athletes showing the highest absolute and relative values in all parameters. An overlap amount was noted between mixed and power categories, especially for relative maximal oxygen consumption.
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Squeo et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Elite athletes (n=1,033). ESC sports classification category (skill, power, mixed, endurance) vs. Between-category comparison was evaluated on V˙O2max (mL/min/kg) (p=<0.0001). Significant differences in V˙O2max were observed among sports disciplines, with endurance athletes showing the highest values (52.4 mL/min/kg) and skill athletes the lowest (36.3 mL/min/kg).
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