INTRODUCTION: Cross-country (XC) skiers usually compete and train in two different styles (skating and classical) with several sub-techniques included. Additionally, XC-skiers also apply cross training by including unspecific modes like running and cycling into their training. While a wealth of research has investigated annual training characteristics in world-class skiers, little is known about the load management during shorter training periods and especially the role of exercise modes in training load management is sparsely investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the mode-monotony and day-by day application of different exercise modes by world-class cross-country skiers in the context of volume and intensity of endurance training. METHODS: Session-by-session self-reported endurance training of 17 (7 female) world-class cross-country skiers (28.4±2.7y) of an entire season (365 days, separated for general preparation and competition phase (GP and CP) in which they attained world-class performance (medal at OWG, WSC or repeatedly on the podium in WC) was retrospectively researched. Session analyses included duration, intensity and modalities (skating and classical style, running, cycling, kayaking, and others) and differentiations for specific on-snow skiing and semi-specific roller skiing for additional analyses. A session was defined according to an applied mode if containing at least 10 minutes of that mode with multiple modes per session possible. Intensive sessions were handled equally with a threshold of 10 minutes of the interval part to be accounted in that mode. Mode-monotony was calculated as the proportion of the most applied mode (i.e., time spent) in a given period. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: Mean weekly mode-monotony was 41.2±5.7% and 47.2±4.8% during GP and CP respectively, while the corresponding weekly scores were 48.3±4.3% and 55.0±5.2%. Distribution of time gaps between session of the same mode for 0 (same day), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5+ days was 5, 43, 25, 12, 6, 10% during GP while the corresponding values for CP were 5, 47, 21, 12, 11, 15%. During GP, 21% of the intensive sessions were performed =14 days after the last intensive session with the same mode while the other sessions were evenly distributed across 0-13 days (all <10%). This was reversed during CP with 18±6% back-to-back intensive days with same mode (including races), while other time gaps were all =11%. The day before and after intensive sessions 47±8% and 40±12% of days contained same mode during GP while the corresponding values for CP were 60±7% and 46±7%. CONCLUSION: The data provides new insights on the day-by-day application of different exercise modes by world-class cross-country skiers. The findings show high variations of modes with mode-monotony barely exceeding 50%. While skiers commonly apply the same mode with gaps of 1 to 2 days, intensive sessions with the same mode are separated by larger time intervals.
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