Training and Nutritional Specifics of Women Competing in Road Cycling - A Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: Women's road cycling is developing rapidly, yet scientific data on the training and nutritional specifics of female road cyclists remain scarce compared with the literature on male cyclists, and many practical recommendations are still extrapolated from male-based research.

Aim: To systematize current knowledge on training characteristics, nutrition, menstrual cycle effects, relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), iron deficiency, altitude training, pregnancy-related return to sport, and sex-specific supplementation responses in female road cyclists.

Material and methods: This descriptive literature review was based on searches in PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar, covering systematic reviews, meta-analyses, official consensus statements, and original studies published mainly between 2015 and 2026.

Results: Female cyclists show lower training volume but relatively higher intensity than males. Race nutrition data in women remain limited, mostly based on single case studies. Menstrual cycle phase appears to affect recovery more than performance. RED-S, iron deficiency, and low bone mineral density are frequent, interrelated health concerns. Altitude training, postpartum return to competition, and sex-specific supplement efficacy remain markedly understudied areas.

Conclusions: Female road cyclists remain underrepresented in sports science research. Training and nutrition recommendations should not be simply extrapolated from male data. Further sex-specific research is needed to guide evidence-based practice in this rapidly growing discipline.