Current trends and injuries in cycling: faster, further, e-bike?

During the past decade, technical innovations (e.g., carbon as a new material, disk brakes, hydraulic shock absorbers, electric transmissions) and lifestyle changes have significantly influenced recreational and professional cycling. In contrast to the past, where ambitious leisure cyclists were primarily interested in the recreational value of nature and landscape, cyclists of all ages are nowadays increasingly focused on performance and self-optimization. Simultaneously, manufacturers have adapted to differing customer requirements: besides the traditional extremities of road and mountain bikes, many specialized models have been designed for special applications: trekking, cyclocross, gravel, full-suspension, single-track, hardtail, downhill, fatbike, etc. For biking fans who are no longer able to meet their own demands due to individual physical restrictions or defined health problems, electric-assist bikes (pedelecs or "e-bikes") were recently introduced. While these are becoming increasingly popular, they have also increased the number of accidents and injuries. The current work provides an update on relevant sport medical and orthopaedic challenges brought on by these developments in cycling.