Pre-Competition Readiness in Cyclists: Role of Sleep Quality and Recovery–Stress Balance

Alok Dhaka; Anil Chahar; Neha Singh; Sunil G Purohit

doi:10.70701/makusbd.1943769

Pre-Competition Readiness in Cyclists: Role of Sleep Quality and Recovery–Stress Balance

Abstract

This study investigated pre-competition sleep quality and its relationship with recovery-stress indices and performance indicators in competitive cyclists. Twenty competitive cyclists (age: 20.8 ± 2.0 years) completed assessments of body composition, resting heart rate (RHR), standing broad jump (SBJ), medicine ball throw (MBT), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), the Acute Recovery and Stress Scale (ARSS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Participants were stratified into good sleepers (PSQI ≤5) and poor sleepers (PSQI >5). The mean global PSQI score (7.7 ± 1.8) indicated predominantly poor pre-competition sleep. Spearman's correlations revealed moderate associations between global PSQI and Recovery Index (ρ = −0.41), Stress Index (ρ = 0.48), and Recovery–Stress Balance (ρ = −0.52; all p < 0.05). Good sleepers demonstrated superior Recovery–Stress Balance (2.50 ± 1.68 vs. 1.71 ± 0.93), lower Stress Index (1.72 ± 0.13 vs. 2.48 ± 0.59), and greater SBJ performance (265.0 ± 7.1 vs. 231.4 ± 38.1 cm) compared to poor sleepers. Effect sizes indicated practically meaningful between-group differences despite limited statistical power. Routine monitoring of sleep and recovery-stress via validated brief questionnaires may facilitate early identification of athletes at risk of suboptimal competitive readiness, informing individualised training load management and sleep hygiene interventions.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Central University of Rajasthan

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted in accordance with ethical standards. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of the Central University of Rajasthan (Approval No. CURAJ/H-IEC/25/10/0021). All participants provided written informed consent prior to their involvement in the study.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Exercise Physiology, Exercise and Sports Psychology, Sports Science and Exercise (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Alok Dhaka
0009-0004-5001-0108
India

Anil Chahar
0009-0007-4389-9748
India

Neha Singh
0000-0003-0683-2409
India

Sunil G Purohit ^*
0009-0008-3120-6091
India

Early Pub Date

June 28, 2026

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

May 4, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 25, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 4 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.70701/makusbd.1943769

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA33UZ62MJ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Dhaka, A., Chahar, A., Singh, N., & Purohit, S. G. (2026). Pre-Competition Readiness in Cyclists: Role of Sleep Quality and Recovery–Stress Balance. Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Sports Sciences, 4(1), 101-109. https://doi.org/10.70701/makusbd.1943769

AMA

1.Dhaka A, Chahar A, Singh N, Purohit SG. Pre-Competition Readiness in Cyclists: Role of Sleep Quality and Recovery–Stress Balance. BURDUR MAKÜSBD. 2026;4(1):101-109. doi:10.70701/makusbd.1943769

Chicago

Dhaka, Alok, Anil Chahar, Neha Singh, and Sunil G Purohit. 2026. “Pre-Competition Readiness in Cyclists: Role of Sleep Quality and Recovery–Stress Balance”. Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Sports Sciences 4 (1): 101-9. https://doi.org/10.70701/makusbd.1943769.

EndNote

Dhaka A, Chahar A, Singh N, Purohit SG (June 1, 2026) Pre-Competition Readiness in Cyclists: Role of Sleep Quality and Recovery–Stress Balance. Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Sports Sciences 4 1 101–109.

IEEE

[1]A. Dhaka, A. Chahar, N. Singh, and S. G. Purohit, “Pre-Competition Readiness in Cyclists: Role of Sleep Quality and Recovery–Stress Balance”, BURDUR MAKÜSBD, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 101–109, June 2026, doi: 10.70701/makusbd.1943769.

ISNAD

Dhaka, Alok - Chahar, Anil - Singh, Neha - Purohit, Sunil G. “Pre-Competition Readiness in Cyclists: Role of Sleep Quality and Recovery–Stress Balance”. Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Sports Sciences 4/1 (June 1, 2026): 101-109. https://doi.org/10.70701/makusbd.1943769.

JAMA

1.Dhaka A, Chahar A, Singh N, Purohit SG. Pre-Competition Readiness in Cyclists: Role of Sleep Quality and Recovery–Stress Balance. BURDUR MAKÜSBD. 2026;4:101–109.

MLA

Dhaka, Alok, et al. “Pre-Competition Readiness in Cyclists: Role of Sleep Quality and Recovery–Stress Balance”. Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 4, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 101-9, doi:10.70701/makusbd.1943769.

Vancouver

1.Alok Dhaka, Anil Chahar, Neha Singh, Sunil G Purohit. Pre-Competition Readiness in Cyclists: Role of Sleep Quality and Recovery–Stress Balance. BURDUR MAKÜSBD. 2026 Jun. 1;4(1):101-9. doi:10.70701/makusbd.1943769