A new study has revealed that well-trained seniors expend as much energy as Tour de France cyclists.
The Danish research shows that age is no obstacle to performing at a maximum for a longer period of time.
Six men, aged 46-71 years, cycled 2,700 km, from Copenhagen to the North Cape, in two weeks, and the researchers examined them along the way. The resulting study shows that the seniors expended 4.0 times the basal metabolism. During Tour de France cyclists typically expend 4.3 times the basal metabolism.
Researchers are very surprised that seniors are able to expend as much energy as elite athletes such as Tour de France cyclists. This is the first study of seniors who've been exposed to this type of hard physical exertion. It's fascinating that, even at an advanced age, our energy can be expended at that level, says Postdoc Mads Rosenkilde Larsen.
The study is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.