Is cycling the most physically demanding sport ?

Beastt

Guess I got my triathlons mixed up. You're right, it was the Xterra he won, competing against men in their early 20s. I suppose the point still holds that pro cyclists can often compete and do well in other sports, although, I should also point out that it was during the cycling event that he made up lost time.

cycleboy

It's interesting that in the early triathlons it was the former swimmers that prevailed (ie Dave Scott) but eventually it was the former cyclists who took over because that's where the most time could be gained.

2LAP

While I think Boxing is very demanding, I wonder about the frequency and durations of the events.

Pro cyclists seem to hurt more often and for longer than pro boxers. I would also argue that this was the case in training as well.

As a junior I started in 53 races in one year (in the season its easy to do three or more races a week in the UK) and still managed to have a three month 'off season' between the road and cross races. Not sure how many amature or junior boxers would do that much competition?

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tomdavis80

The problem is that the nature of competition in boxing has the capacity for long term damage. However, junior boxers may compete twice a month, I think. I doubt they would compete more than 30 times in a year. Cycling has very little chance of long term damage from blows to the head. Some professionals will fight early on in their careers 10 fights in a year. But as they get higher and higher in the competition, their bodies cannot take the abuse of getting rammed 10 times a year at 10 rounds each time where early on, they were fight 4-6 rounds with lower level type opponents.

With cycling, you can train everyday and compete often because a cyclist doesn't have to worry so much about long term damage to the brain and most of the training and pain actually helps the body adapt to it, but a boxer can't do the same thing due to the fact that most of the abuse goes to the brain and the brain is the one thing everyone needs to continue competing and existing.

Thomas Davis

2LAP

Do you consider a single pro boxing match to be more 'demanding' than a Classic, a Stage of the Tour or the whole Tour de France?

While cycling has little head damage; cycling is arguably more dangerous (a couple of deaths in amature TT's last year) and 'extensive' drug use in the pro peleton also presents its own risks (and may even shorten life spans).

After completing the Junior Tour of Ireland (9 stages over 8 days); I had bronchitus and it took me at least two months until I was fully recovered. I guess that would be comparable to or more than the recoveries from the most demanding Junior competitions in boxing?

I must admit I'm bias for cycling as its the most demanding thing I've ever done; yet I have never boxed.

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tomdavis80

Oh, I have no doubt that the Tour De France is probably the most demanding event for any athlete in my mind, but what I am arguing here is the nature of the training and competitions in boxing as compared to cycling. Some cyclists can have a lot of natural talent and win a good number of races at some categories but the same can't really be said about boxing because a boxer doesn't really have the luxury of not training and expecting to be able to win against a midlevel amateur fighter. It takes lots of experience, instinct, and training along with talent to be able to handle that kind of competition because every other boxer's training like you are.

But there is no question about the competition of the Tour De France being the most demanding athletic event for any sport or event. Most cyclists who even tried to handle a Tour De France level event even if it was a lower level event and not the high level and speed that it is with the pros, it would take a toll on any cyclist's body.

I have experienced something similar to you and Bronchitis, but not so severe. I participated in the 35 mile El Tour de Tucson for the first race that I ever did last November and I was slightly sick with the flu and had a nasty headache the night before but felt better that morning. I decided to race anyways and I put every ounce of energy I had out on the road and that caused me to be laid out in bed for a week suffering from the energy drain of the 35 mile race while finishing 8th which isn't too bad.

Thomas Davis

Styler

No-one's yet metioned the Marathon des Sables. Running across the Sahara for days on end must be one of the greatest challenges on earth...

I know some serious mountaineers, and have met some really serious ones. I think climbing successes are usually mostly down to sheer bloodymindedness, although the guys are often pretty fit. Saying that, Stephen Venables (first brit to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen) only quit smoking a week or two before leaving for Nepal!

Polar explorers are another possibility. Is walking unsupported across the Arctic harder than the Tour? There's clearly a big difference between finishing the Tour and winning it...

Tmax1

(first brit to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen) only quit smoking a week or two before leaving for Nepal!

I wounder how he quit.

I'm struggling....

Tmax1

Tmax1

"wounder"

Wound...hmm. Not just a slip or a mis-spell I am sure...

Tm1

limerickman

This was the event that I was trying to recall when I posted this question initially : Marathon des Sables.
Indeed, I think this event is very,very tough (I am acquainted with some one who did this - and this person is a very good amateur cyclist and he told me that MDS is tougher than the RAS :
the RAS being Irelands premier cycling event).

Styler

the fact is that amateurs compete in and do quite well in the marathon des sables. the same cannot be said about the tour de france.

i've read about ultratriathlons, and get the impression that they're very tough too. however, i would have thought that the fitness and determination to win at a more competitive level (ironman for instance) would have to be higher than to win at a longer yet more specialised distance.

Aztec

I have never come across anything more painful or demanding than a single set of 20 rep full squats with a weight that has you seriously doubting whether you'll make 20 when you reach number 11 or so. Truly hardcore lifting is about as demanding and painful as the body can stand.

And I just don't think we can compare intensity vs. duration. The total sum of pain/effort is surely higher in cycling, but many real lifters have a tough time sleeping the night before 20-rep squat day because of the anxiety associated with that intensity.

So it's all apples to oranges.

taras0000

I played Junior A hockey for a couple of years before taking cycling full time. Let me tell you, the practices that we had were insane. they were basically two hour interval sessions. Although it's not as hard as the racing that i've done, it damn hurt a lot more. the burn inthe legs was akin to doing a kilo. except over and over again. plus the full contact aspect hurts too. and you heat up under all that equipment. still the kilo is the most painful event i've done.

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Psycorower

I'd have to say that rowing is the most physically demanding sport in my opinion. I've rowed competitively for 5 years, training 2-3hours a day on the water and usually a couple of hours in the gym aswell. I switched to cycling becuase i did percieve it as slightly easier. It is still a brutal sport no question but in cycling i have found that only my legs and ass hurt and my breating and heart are going like crazy, I can focus on a part of my body that isn't hurting, like my arms or something. In rowing, EVERYTHING and i mean EVERYTHING hurts, and i don't just mean aching i mean proper hurting. Also as you are using your whole body, the pressor reflex is greater in rowing so your heart rate will be higher for a given work rate and the percieved effort is even greater.
Cycling is a tough sport but after the past 5 years rowing, i feel like i'm on holiday.
I'm sure people could find similar arguments for most other sports but i've tried a hell of a lot of them and in my humble opinion rowing is right up there.