‘Downhill race for a rainbow jersey’: the epidemiology of injuries in downhill mountain biking at the 2023 UCI cycling world championships—a prospective cohort study of 230 elite cyclists

Abstract

Objectives This study aims to understand the prevalence, incidence rate, anatomical sites, injury severity and main medical actions carried out during official training and racing by elite downhill mountain biking (DHMTB) riders during the 2023 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Cycling World Championships.Methods The participants of this prospective, observational study were elite male and female cyclists competing at the UCI DHMTB World Championships located in the Nevis range in Fort William, Scotland, in 2023. This study followed the injury reporting guidelines established by the International Olympic Committee, which include the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology—Sports Injury and Illness Surveillance (SIIS) and the cycling-specific extension. Injuries were defined as ‘tissue damage or other derangement of normal physical function due to participation in sports, resulting from rapid or repetitive transfer of kinetic energy requiring medical attention’. All epidemiological data were collected by the local organising committee medical professionals working at the event through an online survey. All data inputted were screened daily by the lead event physician and UCI medical delegate.Results Throughout 5 days of the championships, 10.4% of the 230 cyclists sustained at least one injury. The overall injury incidence rate was 3.3 (95% CI 3.1 to 3.5) per 100 rides. The incidence rates were higher in the training 4.3 (95% CI 4.0 to 4.6)/100 rides than in the racing 2.2 (95% CI 2.1 to 2.3)/100 rides. There was a greater incidence of injury in female cyclists in the training 5.8 (95% CI 5.0 to 6.6)/100 rides and racing 4.5 (95% CI 3.9 to 4.9)/100 rides compared with male cyclists. Female cyclists experienced more severe injuries, with an average of 12.6 (±14, 95% CI 5.66 to 19.54) days lost to injury compared with 5.5 (±1.6 95% CI 1.89 to 9.11) seen in male cyclists. The main event medical actions were lifting, immobilisation and helmet removal.Conclusion This study provides insights into the risk of injury to athletes within DHMTB. Our findings suggest more focus should be placed on the female DHMTB athlete. Additionally, this study provides unique information about common medical actions required of medical professionals working at DHMTB events and the importance of pre-event scenario training.