Do Gender Differences in Elite Cycling Performance Persist?
23 Pages Posted: 16 Jul 2009
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
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