 
 
 1 
S4 Table. Survey outline. 
 
Delphi Study - round 1 (click on link to access survey) 
 
Delphi Study - round 2 (click on link to access survey) 
 
Illustration of round 3 
Factor 
 
Level of agreement (%) 
Rating round 2 
Rating round 3 
Endurance capacity 
61,1 
N 
 
Recovery speed 
61,1 
N 
 
Angiogenesis (=formation 
of new blood vessels) 
50,0 
Y 
 
Muscle fibres - 
transformation capacity 
(type 1 vs. type 2) 
55,6 
N 
 
Weight / BMI 
44,4 
N 
 
Total fat mass 
50,0 
Y 
 
Lean mass (=mass of all 
organs except body fat 
including bones, muscles, 
blood, skin) 
44,4 
Y 
 
Tendon stiffness 
55,6 
N 
 
Insulin-like growth factor-
1 (IGF-1) level 
55,6 
N 
 
Growth hormone level 
66,7 
Y 
 
Vitamin B complex 
vitamins (B1-12) 
deficiency 
50,0 
N 
 
Blood pressure regulation 
50,0 
N 
 
Healing function of soft 
tissue 
50,0 
N 
 
Risk of joint injuries 
66,7 
Y 
 
Risk of upper respiratory 
tract infections 
61,1 
N 
 
Emotion regulation 
66,7 
N 
 
Pain sensitivity 
44,4 
Y 
 
Self-control 
50,0 
N 
 
Resilience capacity 
50,0 
Y 
 
 
2 
Concentration capacity 
44,4 
Y 
 
Heat resistance capacity 
50,0 
Y 
 
Altitude training sensitivity 
55,6 
N 
 
Y=Yes (Factor is relevant and should be included in the consensus report). 
N=No (Factor is not relevant and should not be included in the consensus report). 

Factors associated with high-level endurance performance: An expert consensus derived via the Delphi technique.
Konopka, Magdalena J,Zeegers, Maurice P,Solberg, Paul A,Delhaije, Louis,Meeusen, Romain,Ruigrok, Geert,Rietjens, Gerard,Sperlich, Billy