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June 12, 2026European Journal of Preventive CardiologyOpen Access

Sex differences in cardiac adaptation and training patterns in elite cyclists

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Population

132 young elite cyclists, median age 21 [19 – 25] years, recruited from the multicentre Pro@Heart study.

Design

Cohort

Follow-up

12 months

Authors

JPJ De PaepeCDC DausinSRS Ruiz-Carmona

Discussion

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Overview

Supports sex-specific cardiac monitoring in elite cyclists; hypothesis-generating for training effects, pending prospective validation.

Key Points

  • The aim was to evaluate sex differences in cardiac volumes and mass in elite cyclists and quantify the relationship between training load and cardiac structure.
  • Evaluated a cohort of young elite cyclists from the Pro@Heart study.
  • Utilized cardiac MRI to measure biventricular volumes, mass, and function.
  • Collected heart rate data over 12 months to quantify training load and intensity.
  • Male athletes had significantly larger left and right ventricular volumes compared to females (p<0.001).
  • VO2peak was higher in males (67 mL/kg/min) compared to females (55 mL/kg/min).
  • Total training duration positively correlated with LV volumes in males but only with LV mass in females.

Structured PICO

P
Population
132 young elite cyclists (87 male, 45 female), median age 21 [19 – 25] years, recruited from the multicentre Pro@Heart study.
C
Comparator
Male versus female athletes
O
Outcome
Sex differences in cardiac volumes and mass, and the relationship between objectively measured training load and cardiac structuresurrogate

Elite male and female cyclists exhibit different training patterns and sex-specific relationships between exercise volume/intensity and cardiac remodeling.

Cite This Study

Paepe et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2bd1386550ea4541ffe93ehttps://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwag249.378
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1The Recreational Athlete’s Heart: Sex-Specific Three-Dimensional Echocardiographic Reference Values in Relation to VO₂peak2025
  2. 2Aallometric scaling of left ventricular structure in elite cyclists: development of sport-specific prediction equations2026
  3. 3Cardiac structure and systolic function in resistance-trained athletes versus untrained male adults2025
  4. 4Left ventricular efficiency in endurance athletes2026
  5. 5Sex differences in durability following heavy intensity cycling exercise in trained athletes2025