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When is the most advantageous time for a team to travel to a game being played at altitude?

According to a leading sports scientist, so-called 'conventional wisdom' is misleading and most teams get it wrong.

Since coastal teams find little or no advantage playing at altitude on the Highveld, the question really is when a team should travel so as to minimise the disadvantage of playing at altitude.

In an article on the official SA Rugby Union website, sports scientist Dr Ross Tucker says that with the Lions, the Bulls and to a lesser extent, the Cheetahs all playing their home matches at what is classified as moderate altitude, between 1,000 metres and 1,700 metres, Super 14 teams need to look carefully at their travel plans.

"There is no question that altitude affects performance," says Tucker.

He points out that the fundamental effect of altitude on physiology is to reduce the availability of oxygen to the muscles.  Breathing is more difficult and players' intensity is reduced, because the brain picks up that oxygen is limited.

Tucker continues: "As the game progresses, fatigue levels are raised compared to at sea-level, which is why there is a perception that the final 20 minutes at altitude really tell on visiting teams.

"This perception will only have been increased by the Bulls’ stirring comebacks in the final 20 minutes of their recent matches at Loftus Versfeld."

Tucker points out that while full acclimatisation of the body to adapt to the lower oxygen levels probably takes more than two weeks - not feasible in a competitions where weekly travel is required - "five to seven days is thought to be sufficient time to adapt enough to eliminate any performance disadvantage".

What Tucker finds curious is that many teams continue to travel to altitude on the day of their match, despite scientific evidence suggesting that this is the worst possible approach.

The logic of most teams visiting the Highveld is that you either spend a lot of time at altitude in order to adapt, or fly immediately before the game.

Tucker says this is a typical example of ‘conventional wisdom’, perhaps begun many years ago, which persists in the face of evidence to the contrary.

"Scientifically, playing as soon as possible seems to be the worst possible strategy," says Tucker on the SARU website.

"Studies have found that the worst physical performances are measured about six hours after arriving at altitude, and only improve from that point on.

"There is no ‘window of opportunity’ where players are good before they get worse - they only get better. This means that the earlier you can arrive at altitude, the better."

While acknowledging that this is an under-researched area, Tucker concludes: "For now, all the evidence says that the best approach is to maximise time spent at altitude.

"Arrive early, adapt, and then perform as well as possible."