INTRODUCTION: An athlete`s distribution of energetic resources, described as their "pacing strategy," have a substantial influence on performance in various endurance sports (Abbiss & Laursen 2008). We investigated whether reducing the start pace in biathlon athletes with the most pronounced fast-start pacing pattern influence rollerski performance, hits and precisions of prone and standing shooting and rate of perceived exertion (RPE). METHODS: Thirty-eight high-level athletes (26 males) performed an individual 7.5 (3 laps of 2.5 km females) or 10 km (3 laps of 3.3 km, males) rollerski race with a self-selected pacing strategy (Day 1). Prone shooting (after lap 1) and standing shooting (after lap 2) were conducted on cardboard discs with 1-10 precision. Based on the start pace the first ~150 s (Lap 1 first 600-m segment pace·average lap 1-3 first 600-m segment pace -1), subjects were ranked into two groups; an intervention group with the fastest start pace (INT, n = 20) or a control group with a more conservative pacing pattern (CON, n = 18). On Day 2, INT was instructed to reduce their start pace based on their average Lap 1-3 segment pace from Day 1, while CON was instructed to maintain their Day 1 strategy. Paired sample t-tests were used to calculate the differences within groups, while an unpaired t-test was conducted between groups for the relative differences between days. RESULTS: INT increased their time-trial performance more than CON from Day 1 to Day 2 (mean ± 95CI; 1.5 ± 0.7% vs. 0.0 ± 0.9%, P < 0.05). From Day 1 to Day 2, INT slowed their start pace (5.0 ± 1.5%, P < 0.05), with lowered RPE during the first lap (P < 0.05). For CON, no change was found for starting pace (-0.8 ± 1.2%) or RPE between days. No differences were found in shooting performance for either group. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: In line with our recent results from cross-country skiers (Losnegard et al., 2022), we demonstrated that the start pace the first ~2-3 min of a ~25 min biathlon competition has a substantial influence on skiing performance. Morover, the changed pacing strategy did not influence their shooting performance, but the overall rate of perceived exertion was reduced implying less discomfort during the race.
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