Modelling Lance Armstrong

Can scientists translate a top performance in cycle racing into a computer model? NCSB-NBIC scientists published an article with a simulation of energy conversion in the human body. They took metabolic data on Lance Armstrong to simulate the Alpe d'Huez time trial in the Tour de France of 2004, making among others use of equations developed for NASA to simulate astronauts. The temperature in leg muscles approached 40 degrees Celsius and brain temperature reached 39 degrees Celsius within fifteen minutes.

During the time trial, on average about 1600 Watt of heat was generated in the body of the simulated cyclist. This is comparable to the maximal heat that is generated by a domestic electric heater. The simulations further suggest that the very high peaks of energy turnover during the rhythmic pedal strokes are damped strongly by the natural buffer system in muscle, which is based on creatine. In addition, the simulations also show how the brain may help to clear and metabolize lactic acid made by the muscles. This simulation study on the ‘virtual physiological human’ helps scientists to understand how the body behaves at the limits of human performance as demonstrated by champion athletes.

VUmc website (in Dutch)
www.vumc.nl/onderzoek/nieuws/6343633/

Open access article
Van Beek JH, Supandi F, Gavai AK, de Graaf AA, Binsl TW, Hettling H. (2011)
Simulating the physiology of athletes during endurance sports events: modelling human energy conversion and metabolism.
Philos Transact A Math Phys Eng Sci. 2011 Nov 13;369(1954):4295-315. http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/369/1954