Do Gender Differences in Elite Cycling Performance Persist?

23 Pages Posted: 16 Jul 2009

See all articles by Elmer Sterken

Elmer Sterken

University of Groningen - Faculty of Economics and Business; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Gerard H. Kuper

University of Groningen - Faculty of Economics and Business

Date Written: July 14, 2009

Abstract

In this paper we analyse differences in past, present, and expected future gender differences in speed track cycling performance. First, we model limits in world records of track cycling events and the one hour record using the four parameter Gompertz curve. Next, we estimate the so-called fatigue rate and calculate gender average speed differences. We confirm earlier findings on the average fatigue rate (about 1.1) and find a persistent average gender gap in average speed of about 12.6%. Both the fatigue rate and the gender difference are found to be larger for anaerobic events.

Keywords: World records, Gompertz curve, Fatigue rate

JEL Classification: C2, J16, L83

Suggested Citation

Sterken, Elmer and Kuper, Gerard H., Do Gender Differences in Elite Cycling Performance Persist? (July 14, 2009). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1434057 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1434057

Elmer Sterken

University of Groningen - Faculty of Economics and Business ( email )

Postbus 72
9700 AB Groningen
Netherlands

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

Gerard H. Kuper (Contact Author)

University of Groningen - Faculty of Economics and Business ( email )

Postbus 72
9700 AB Groningen
Netherlands

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