Development of 1500m Pacing Behavior in Junior Speed Skaters: A Longitudinal Study.

Providing insight in the development of pacing behavior in junior speed skaters and analyse possible differences between elite, sub-elite, and non-elite juniors.1500m season best times (SBT) and corresponding pacing behavior were obtained longitudinally for 104 Dutch male speed skaters at age 13-14(U15), 15-16(U17), and 17-18(U19) years. Based on their U19 SBT, skaters were divided into elite(n=17), sub-elite(n=64), and non-elite(n=23) groups. Pacing behavior was analysed using the 0-300m, 300-700m, 700-1100m and 1100-1500m times, expressed as a percentage of final time. Mixed analyses of variance were used for statistical analyses.With age, pacing behavior generally developed towards a slower 0-300m and 1100-1500m and a faster mid-section relative to final time. While being faster on all sections, the elite were relatively slower on 0-300m (22.1±0.27%) than the sub-elite and non-elite (21.5±0.44%)(p<0.01), but relatively faster on 300-700m (24.6±0.30%) than the non-elite (24.9±0.58%)(p=0.002). On 700-1100m, the elite and sub-elite (26.2±0.25%) were relatively faster than the non-elite (26.5±0.41%)(p=0.008). Differences in the development of pacing behavior were found from U17-U19 with relative 700-1100m times decreasing for the elite and sub-elite (26.2±0.31% to 26.1±0.27%), but increasing for the non-elite (26.3±0.29% to 26.5±0.41%)(p=0.014).Maintaining high speed into 700-1100m, accompanied by a relatively slower start, appears crucial for high performance on the 1500m speed skating. Generally, juniors develop towards this profile, with a more pronounced development towards a relative faster 700-1100m from U17-U19 for elite junior speed skaters. The results of the present study indicate the relevance of pacing behavior for talent development.