Sprint Cycling Performance Research Articles

Reliability of traditional and task specific reference tasks to assess peak muscle activation during two different sprint cycling tests

Neuromuscular activation is considered an important determinant sprint cycling performance but requires reliable EMG amplitude measurements to facilitate sensitive assessments. The reliability of EMG measurements during sprint cycling may depend on the sprint cycling test undertaken (isovelocity or isoinertial accelerating), the reference tasks used for normalisation (isometric MVCs of a series of single muscle groups [ISO-SINGJT] or isometric cycling MVCs [ISO-CYC]), and the efficacy of the normalisation. This study aimed to compare the magnitude and between-session reliability of peak muscle activation (peak rmsEMG) during: isovelocity and isoinerital sprint cycling tests; ISO-SINGJT and ISO-CYC reference tasks; and absolute and normalised EMG during the sprint cycling tests.EMG amplitude was measured over six major muscle groups on both legs and all measurements were made over two sessions in a randomised counterbalanced design. Peak rmsEMG was assessed during both ISO-SINGJT and ISO-CYC MVCs and then during mechanical peak power output (PPO) during isovelocity (120 RPM) and isoinerital acceleration (0 to >150 RPM) sprint tests. Absolute peak rmsEMG and for the sprint tests normalised EMG values were determined, and coefficient of variation and intra-class correlation coefficients used to assess reliability.Peak rmsEMG at PPO during both sprint cycling tests was similar for the six muscle groups measured. Peak rmsEMG was higher during ISO-SINGJT than ISO-CYC for for 3 of the 6 muscle groups, but all muscle groups exhibited similar reliability for both reference tasks. Neither reference task improved the between-session reliability for either sprint test. This data highlights reservations in the use of isometric reference tasks to ascertain changes in peak muscle activation over time in during sprint cycling assessments.

Caffeine and Sprint Cycling Performance: Effects of Torque Factor and Sprint Duration.

To investigate the influence of torque factor and sprint duration on the effects of caffeine on sprint cycling performance. Using a counterbalanced, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 13 men completed 9 trials. In trial 1, participants completed a series of 6-s sprints at increasing torque factors to determine the torque factor, for each individual, that elicited the highest (Toptimal) peak power output (PPO). The remaining trials involved all combinations of torque factor (0.8N·m-1·kg-1 vs Toptimal), sprint duration (10s vs 30s), and supplementation (caffeine [5mg·kg-1] vs placebo). There was a significant effect of torque factor on PPO, with higher values at Toptimal (mean difference 168W; 95% likely range 142-195W). There was also a significant effect of sprint duration on PPO, with higher values in 10-s sprints (mean difference 52W; 95% likely range 18-86W). However, there was no effect of supplementation on PPO (P = .056). Nevertheless, there was a significant torque factor × sprint duration × supplement interaction (P = .036), with post hoc tests revealing that caffeine produced a higher PPO (mean difference 76W; 95% likely range 19-133W) when the sprint duration was 10s and the torque factor was Toptimal. The results of this study show that when torque factor and sprint duration are optimized, to allow participants to express their highest PPO, there is a clear effect of caffeine on sprinting performance.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation With Halo Sport Enhances Repeated Sprint Cycling and Cognitive Performance.

The present study investigated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) using the Halo Sport device on repeated sprint cycling ability and on cognitive performance. In this triple-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study, nine physically active participants received either a placebo stimulation (Sham) or real stimulation (Halo) for 20 min. Participants then performed 5 × 6-s sprints interspersed with 24 s of active recovery on a cycle ergometer. Peak and mean power output were measured for each sprint. In addition, cognitive performance in terms of reaction time (RT) and accuracy (ACC) was assessed via Stroop test pre- and post-stimulation. There was a significant interaction for mean power output [F(4,32) = 2.98, P = 0.03]. A main treatment effect was observed in all of the repeated sprints apart from the initial one. Halo did not affect RT in either the congruent or incongruent condition but did increase ACC in the incongruent condition [F(1,8) = 10.56, P = 0.012]. These results suggest that tDCS with the Halo Sport system is able to enhance aspects of sprint cycling ability and cognitive performance.

Muscle-tendon behaviour during sprint in road cyclists: effect of the force-velocity condition

Muscle-tendon behaviour during sprint in road cyclists: effect of the force-velocity condition

Differences in the Repeated Sprint Performance Between the First and Latter Halves of Trials Under Conditions of Several Thermal States in Exercising Muscles.

Inoue, K, Yamashita, N, Kume, M, and Yoshida, T. Differences in the repeated sprint performance between the first and latter halves of trials under conditions of several thermal states in exercising muscles. J Strength Cond Res 35(3): 782-790, 2021-The purpose of this study was to determine whether the effects of thermal states in exercising muscle on repeated sprint cycling (RSC) performance differ between the first and latter half of trials. Nine male subjects performed 8 × 8 seconds of RSC with a 40-second rest period. The subjects wore water-perfused trousers with water at 6° C (COLD), 17° C (COOL), 30° C (WARM), or 44° C (HOT). During the first half of trials, the peak power output (PPO), mean power output (MPO), and sum of work output (SWO) were significantly (p < 0.05) greater under the WARM and HOT conditions than under the COLD and COOL conditions, and a difference in the PPO and MPO between WARM and HOT was noted in the second sprint bout during the first half of the exercise. However, during the latter half of trials, there was no significant difference in the PPO, MPO, and SWO among the 4 conditions. The tympanic temperature (Tty) was significantly elevated under the HOT condition but fell under the COLD and COOL conditions, whereas the Tty under the WARM condition did not change significantly (p < 0.05) during the experiment. The total sweat loss was significantly (p < 0.05) greater in the HOT condition than in the other conditions. These results suggest that the effect of thermal states in exercising muscle on the RSC performance is greater in the first half of exercise than in the latter half, possibly because of the elevation of the core temperature and sweat loss under HOT conditions.

Can caffeine supplementation reverse the effect of time of day on repeated-sprint exercise performance?

The aim of this study was to evaluate if caffeine can reduce the negative influence of diurnal variations on repeated-sprint performance, in addition to investigating if caffeine in the afternoon would potentiate performance compared with the morning. Thirteen physically active men took part in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study. All participants underwent a repeated-sprint ability test (10 × 6 s cycle sprints, with 30 s of rest) at 60 min after ingestion of either 5 mg·kg-1 or placebo under 4 different conditions: morning with caffeine ingestion, morning with placebo ingestion, afternoon with caffeine ingestion, and afternoon with placebo ingestion. Total work, peak power (PP) and anaerobic power reserve (APR) were assessed. Oxygen uptake, heart rate, lactate concentration, and rating of perceived exertion were also measured during the repeated-sprint test. Total work (+8%, d = 0.2, small), PP (+6%, d = 0.2), and APR (+9%, d = 0.2) were significantly higher in the afternoon when compared with morning. However, physiological responses were not different between caffeine and placebo conditions. Repeated-sprint (10 × 6 s cycle sprint) performance was influenced by time of day, with lower performance in the morning compared with the afternoon. However, caffeine supplementation did not prevent the reduction in performance in the morning or improve performance in the afternoon.

Reliability of a laboratory-based long sprint cycling test: applications of the smallest worthwhile changes in performance for repeated measures designs

The aims of the present study were to assess the reliability of long sprint cycling performance in a group of recreationally trained cyclists and to provide thresholds for changes in performance for this particular group of subjects in repeated measures designs through a scale of magnitudes. Repeatability of mean power output during a 1-min cycling time trial was assessed in a group of 15 recreationally trained cyclists (26 ± 5, years, 176 ± 5 cm, 78 ± 8 kg). They were tested on separate days, approximately one week apart. The test and retest values for the whole group of cyclists were 7.0 ± 0.5 W/kg and 6.9 ± 0.6 W/kg (systematic change and 90% confidence limits of -1.0% ± 1.1%). Our results indicated good test-retest reproducibility (typical error of 1.8%, 90% confidence limits of 1.4% to 2.6%; intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.96, confidence limits of 0.91 to 0.99), but suggested a reduction of mean power for the “slower” subjects on retest (-2.0%, 90% confidence limits of ±1.8%). If not monitored, this systematic decrease could interfere in results of studies utilizing groups with similar performance levels, particularly investigating strategies to improve performance in sprint cycling exercises around 1 min. The thresholds for moderate, large, very large and extremely large effects for mean power output on long sprint cycling performance are about 0.4%, 1.3%, 2.3%, 3.6%, and 5.8%, respectively.

Creatine-electrolyte supplementation improves repeated sprint cycling performance: A double blind randomized control study

BackgroundCreatine supplementation is recommended as an ergogenic aid to improve repeated sprint cycling performance. Furthermore, creatine uptake is increased in the presence of electrolytes. Prior research examining the effect of a creatine-electrolyte (CE) supplement on repeated sprint cycling performance, however, did not show post-supplementation improvement. The purpose of this double blind randomized control study was to investigate the effect of a six-week CE supplementation intervention on overall and repeated peak and mean power output during repeated cycling sprints with recovery periods of 2 min between sprints.MethodsPeak and mean power generated by 23 male recreational cyclists (CE group: n = 12; 24.0 ± 4.2 years; placebo (P) group: n = 11; 23.3 ± 3.1 years) were measured on a Velotron ergometer as they completed five 15-s cycling sprints, with 2 min of recovery between sprints, pre- and post-supplementation. Mixed-model ANOVAs were used for statistical analyses.ResultsA supplement-time interaction showed a 4% increase in overall peak power (pre: 734 ± 75 W; post: 765 ± 71 W; p = 0.040; ηp2 = 0.187) and a 5% increase in overall mean power (pre: 586 ± 72 W; post: 615 ± 74 W; p = 0.019; ηp2 = 0.234) from pre- to post-supplementation for the CE group. For the P group, no differences were observed in overall peak (pre: 768 ± 95 W; post: 772 ± 108 W; p = 0.735) and overall mean power (pre: 638 ± 77 W; post: 643 ± 92 W; p = 0.435) from pre- to post-testing. For repeated sprint analysis, peak (pre: 737 ± 88 W; post: 767 ± 92 W; p = 0.002; ηp2 = 0.380) and mean (pre: 650 ± 92 W; post: 694 ± 87 W; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.578) power output were significantly increased only in the first sprint effort in CE group from pre- to post-supplementation testing. For the P group, no differences were observed for repeated sprint performance.ConclusionA CE supplement improves overall and repeated short duration sprint cycling performance when sprints are interspersed with adequate recovery periods.

Polarity-dependent improvement of maximal-effort sprint cycling performance by direct current stimulation of the central nervous system

Sprint motor performance, such as in short-distance running or cycling, gradually decreases after reaching a maximum speed or cadence. This may be attributed to the central nervous system. Brain stimulation studies have recently revealed the plastic nature of the human brain and spinal cord, but it is unclear how direct current stimulation (DCS) affects sprint motor performance. To address this issue, we investigated DCS's effect on healthy volunteers' sprint cycling performance. DCS was applied to the lumbar spinal cord (3mA) or the leg area of the motor cortex (2mA) for 15min with 3 different polarities: anodal, cathodal, and sham. After DCS, the subjects performed maximal-effort sprint cycling for 30s under a constant load. Pooled mean power during the 30s was significantly greater after cathodal transcutaneous spinal DCS to the lumbar spinal cord (tsDCS) than anodal or sham tsDCS. The improvement with cathodal stimulation was notable both 0-5 and 20-25s after the performance onset. There were no significant inter-conditional differences in peak power. Pooled mean power was significantly greater after anodal transcranial DCS to the motor cortex (tDCS) than after cathodal tDCS, although mean powers of anodal and sham tDCS were not significantly different. The increase in mean power after cathodal tsDCS could result from a reduction in central fatigue. This stimulus method might improve sprint performance.

Sprint Cycling Performance Improvement Post-Creatine Supplementation is Associated with Increase in Lean Body Mass

Creatine supplementation is recommended as an ergogenic aid to improve repeated cycling sprint performance. Creatine absorption is increased in the presence of electrolytes. Research examining the effect of a creatine-electrolyte (CE) supplement on repeated sprint cycling performance failed to show post-supplementation improvement. These results can be attributed to inadequate recovery periods between repeated sprints. A recovery of 2-minutes is adequate for phosphocreatine resynthesis and may allow for maximal performance during repeated cycling sprints. PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of a 6-week CE supplementation intervention on peak power and average work performed during repeated cycling sprints interspersed with 2-minute recovery periods. METHODS: Peak power and average work performed by 38 recreational cyclists (CE group: n = 17; 23.4 ± 4.0 years; placebo (P) group: n = 18; 23.4 ± 4.0 years) were measured on a Velotron ergometer as they completed five, 15-s cycling sprints, with two minutes of recovery between sprints, pre- and post-supplementation. Peak power was the highest overall power measured across the sprints. Average work was the mean of total work performed across the five sprints. Participants’ body composition was estimated using three site skinfold measurements. Mixed-model ANOVAs were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: For almost all participants, the peak power was generated during the first sprint. A supplement-time interaction showed a 4% increase in peak power (27 W; p < 0.001) and a 5% increase in average work (376 J; p < 0.001) from pre- to post-supplementation for the CE group. For the P group, no differences were observed in these variables from pre- to post-testing. Similarly, the lean body mass increased by 2% (1.4 kg; p = 0.001) from pre- to post-testing for the CE group, whereas no differences were found for the P group (supplement-time interaction; p = 0.001). For the CE group, a modest association (r = 0.626; p = 0.007) was observed between the increases in peak power and lean body mass from pre- to post-supplementation. CONCLUSION: A CE supplement improves repeated short duration cycling sprint performance when sprints are interspersed with adequate recovery periods. Additionally, the ergogenic effect of CE supplement is associated with an increase in lean body mass.

Endurance, aerobic high-intensity, and repeated sprint cycling performance is unaffected by normobaric "Live High-Train Low": a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study.

The aim was to investigate whether 6weeks of normobaric "Live High-Train Low" (LHTL) using altitude tents affect highly trained athletes incremental peak power, 26-km time-trial cycling performance, 3-min all-out performance, and 30-s repeated sprint ability. In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled cross-over design, seven highly trained triathletes were exposed to 6weeks of normobaric hypoxia (LHTL) and normoxia (placebo) for 8h/day. LHTL exposure consisted of 2 weeks at 2500m, 2weeks at 3000m, and 2weeks at 3500m. Power output during an incremental test, ~26-km time trial, 3-min all-out exercise, and 8 × 30s of all-out sprint was evaluated before and after the intervention. Following at least 8weeks of wash-out, the subjects crossed over and repeated the procedure. Incremental peak power output was similar after both interventions [LHTL: 375 ± 74 vs. 369 ± 70W (pre-vs-post), placebo: 385 ± 60 vs. 364 ± 79W (pre-vs-post)]. Likewise, mean power output was similar between treatments as well as before and after each intervention for time trial [LHTL: 257 ± 49 vs. 254 ± 54W (pre-vs-post), placebo: 267 ± 57 vs. 267 ± 52W (pre-vs-post)], and 3-min all-out [LHTL: 366 ± 68 vs. 369 ± 72W (pre-vs-post), placebo: 365 ± 66 vs. 355 ± 71W (pre-vs-post)]. Furthermore, peak- and mean power output during repeated sprint exercise was similar between groups at all time points (n = 5). In conclusion, 6weeks of normobaric LHTL using altitude tents simulating altitudes of 2500-3500m conducted in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled cross-over design do not affect power output during an incremental test, a ~26-km time-trial test, or 3-min all-out exercise in highly trained triathletes. Furthermore, 30s of repeated sprint ability was unaltered.

The Effect of Whole-Body Vibration on Subsequent Sprint Performance in Well-Trained Cyclists.

To investigate the effect of adding WBV to warm-up procedures on subsequent cycle sprint performance. Eleven well-trained cyclists participated in the study. All cyclists performed a familiarization session before 2 separate test sessions in randomized order. Each session included a standardized warm-up followed by 1 of the following preconditioning exercises: 30 s of half-squats without WBV or 30 s of half-squats with WBV at 40 Hz. A 15-s Wingate sprint was performed 1 min after the preconditioning exercise. Performing preconditioning exercise with WBV at 40 Hz resulted in superior peak power output compared with preconditioning exercise without WBV (1413 ± 257 W vs 1353 ± 213 W, P = .04) and a tendency toward superior mean power output during a 15-second all-out sprint (850 ± 119 W vs 828 ± 101 W, P = .08). Effect sizes showed a moderate practical effect of WBV vs no WBV on both peak and mean power output. Preconditioning exercise performed with WBV at 40 Hz seems to have a positive effect on cycling sprint performance in young well-trained cyclists. This suggests that athletes can incorporate body-loaded squats with WBV in preparations to specific sprint training to improve the quality of the sprint training and also to improve sprint performance in relevant competitions.

Acute effects of kinesio taping on a 6 s maximal cycling sprint performance

ABSTRACTBased on the hypothesis that tactile stimulation affects muscle activation levels, we theorized that taping vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles would improve a 6 s sprint cycling performance. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether the use of kinesio taping (KT) was helpful in increasing maximal-intensity cycling exercise. Sixteen active healthy subjects were enrolled in a randomized placebo, repeated measures design. All subjects were tested on a cycle ergometer under three conditions: without taping, taping along anterior thigh muscles and sham taping across the same muscle groups. Results showed a significant increase in peak power output and total work after the application compared to the condition with no tape applied (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the two modes of application. Our findings indicated that the tactile stimulation of KT applied longitudinally provided positive effects during a sprint cycling performance in healthy and active subjects.

Coffee and Caffeine Ingestion Have Little Effect on Repeated Sprint Cycling in Relatively Untrained Males.

The present study investigated the effect of ingesting caffeine-dose-matched anhydrous caffeine or coffee on the performance of repeated sprints. Twelve recreationally active males (mean ± SD age: 22 ± 2 years, height: 1.78 ± 0.07 m, body mass: 81 ± 16 kg) completed eighteen 4 s sprints with 116 s recovery on a cycle ergometer on four separate occasions in a double-blind, randomised, counterbalanced crossover design. Participants ingested either 3 mg·kg−1 of caffeine (CAF), 0.09 g·kg−1 coffee, which provided 3 mg·kg−1 of caffeine (COF), a taste-matched placebo beverage (PLA), or a control condition (CON) 45 min prior to commencing the exercise protocol. Peak and mean power output and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded for each sprint. There were no significant differences in peak power output (CAF: 949 ± 199 W, COF: 949 ± 174 W, PLA: 971 ± 149 W and CON: 975 ± 170 W; p = 0.872; = 0.02) or mean power output (CAF: 873 ± 172 W, COF: 862 ± 44 W, PLA: 887 ± 119 W and CON: 892 ± 143 W; p = 0.819; = 0.03) between experimental conditions. Mean RPE was similar for all trials (CAF: 11 ± 2, COF: 11 ± 2, PLA: 11 ± 2 and CON: 11 ± 2; p = 0.927; = 0.01). Neither the ingestion of COF or CAF improved repeated sprint cycling performance in relatively untrained males.

No Improvement in Sprint Performance With a Neuromuscular Fitted Dental Splint.

To test the effects of a neuromuscular fitted dental splint in comparison with a habitual verticalizing splint and a no-splint condition on cycling sprint performance in the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). Twenty-three men (26.0 ± 2.0 y, 1.82 ± 0.06 m, 79.4 ± 7.7 kg) performed 3 WAnTs, 1 with the neuromuscular fitted splint, 1 with a habitual verticalized dental splint of the same height and material, and 1 under control conditions without any mouth guard, in randomized order separated by 1 wk. No differences between any splint conditions were found in any aspect of WAnT performance (time to peak power, peak power, minimum power, power drop, and average power). Moderate to nearly perfect correlations between all splint conditions in all WAnT outcomes with coefficients of variation between 1.3% and 6.6% were found. Irrespective of habitual verticalization or myocentric positioning, dental splints have no effects on any aspect of WAnT performance. Results are comparable to those of test-retest experiments.

High-intensity Interval Training in the Boundaries of the Severe Domain: Effects on Sprint and Endurance Performance.

In order to compare the effects of two 4-week interval training programs performed at the lower (Critical Power, CP) or at the higher (The highest intensity at which V˙O2max is attained, IHIGH) intensities of the severe exercise domain on sprint and endurance cycling performance, 21 recreationally trained cyclists performed the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) and a 250-kJ time trial. Accumulated oxygen deficit (AOD), surface electromyography (RMS), and blood lactate kinetics were measured during the WAnT. Subjects were assigned to 105% CP or IHIGH groups. During the WAnT, significantly greater improvements in peak (Mean ±95%CI) (5.7±2.3% vs. 0.2±2.2%), mean power output (MPO) (3.7±2.0% vs. 0.5±1.8%), and RMS (17.8±7.4% vs. -15.7±7.9%) were observed in the IHIGH group (P<0.05). Higher and lower AOD, respectively, at the start and during the second half of the WAnT were observed after IHIGH training. The changes in RMS and MPO induced by the training were significantly correlated (r=0.584). The 2 interventions induced improvements in the 250-kJ time trial. In conclusion, although the improvements in endurance performance were similar, training at IHIGH led to higher gains in WAnT performance than training at 105%CP.

Potentiation of sprint cycling performance: the effects of a high-inertia ergometer warm-up

ABSTRACTParticipant and protocol factors affect post-activation potentiation response. Performance enhancement is more consistent in highly-trained participants following multiple sets of a biomechanically similar conditioning activity. Providing optimal conditions, 6 international-level sprint cyclists executed multiple sets of short maximal conditioning contractions on a high-inertia ergometer before metered sprint performance. Three trial conditions were completed on separate days after a standardised warm-up: dynamic (DYN: 4 × 4 crank-cycles), isometric (ISO: 4 × 5-sec maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)), and control (CON: rest). Performance was measured from standing start to maximum velocity on an inertial-load ergometer at baseline (Pre), 4 (Post4), 8 (Post8) and 16 (Post16) min post-conditioning. Performance and biomechanical measures were assessed across 4 sprint segments, with magnitude-based inferences used to assess the likelihood that any affect was beneficial. Performance time only improved in DYN Post4, a 3.9% reduction during the first crank cycle (92% likely). On the ascending limb of the power-cadence relationship, peak torque and average power increased by 6.2% (94% likely) and 4.0% (87% likely), respectively. In ISOPost16, optimal cadence increased (82% likely) and average power improved over the descending limb (76% likely). DYN and ISO potentiated extremities of the torque-cadence relationship at distinct recovery times post-conditioning. This study suggests merit in including a high-inertia warm-up for sprint cycling.

Comparison of Two Modes of Inducing Potentiation of Sprint Cycling Performance

Background: The use of Post-activation potentiation (PAP) techniques is becoming increasingly popular prior to power-based sports training and competition. A Wingate cycle test is widely used to measure work and power output during short, high-intensity bouts. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the differences between two conditioning activities (Loaded Counter Movement Vertical jumps vs. Dynamic Mid-Thigh Pulls) upon a 15s Alactic cycle test. Methods: 11 male subjects (Mean Age=22.3 ± 4.6 years, were utilized in this study, each performed 3, 15 second maximal bouts of exercise on the cycle ergometer, with a relative load of 0.08 kg/kg BW. The order of conditions was randomized, following a mandatory warm up one maximal bout was a control, the others tested possible potentiation following the two separate conditioning activities, Lower extremity plyometrics with 5 sets of 3 maximal explosive bouts with 10% body weight (condition 1) and dynamic mid-thigh pulls with 5 sets of 3 maximal explosive bout with 1.5 times body weight (condition2). 2-ANOVA”s where used to compare between conditions, significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Both conditioning activities showed significant improvement compared to control for Maximum Power (p<0.05), and condition2 showed a significant improvement compared to control for Relative Peak Power (p<0.05). There were no significant differences seen between the 2 PAP protocols (p>0.05). Conclusion: Both PAP protocols improved power measured by ALactic cycle test greater than the control. The use of loaded CMVJ’s prior to BMX competition may be a viable practical alternative to DMTCP’s.

Enhancement on Wingate Anaerobic Test Performance With Hyperventilation.

Relatively long-lasting metabolic alkalizing procedures such as bicarbonate ingestion have potential for improving performance in long-sprint to middle-distance events. Within a few minutes, hyperventilation can induce respiratory alkalosis. However, corresponding performance effects are missing or equivocal at best. To test a potential performance-enhancing effect of respiratory alkalosis in a 30-s Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). 10 men (mean ± SD age 26.6 ± 4.9 y, height 184.4 ± 6.1 cm, body-mass test 1 80.7 ± 7.7 kg, body-mass test 2 80.4 ± 7.2 kg, peak oxygen uptake 3.95 ± 0.43 L/min) performed 2 WAnTs, 1 with and 1 without a standardized 15-min hyperventilation program pre-WAnT in randomized order separated by 1 wk. Compared with the control condition, hyperventilation reduced (all P < .01) pCO2 (40.5 ± 2.8 vs 22.5 ± 1.6 mm Hg) and HCO3 - (25.5 ± 1.7 vs 22.7 ± 1.6 mmol/L) and increased (all P < .01) pH (7.41 ± 0.01 vs 7.61 ± 0.03) and actual base excess (1.4 ± 1.4 vs 3.2 ± 1.6 mmol/L) pre-WAnT with an ergogenic effect on WAnT average power (681 ± 41 vs 714 ± 44 W) and total metabolic energy (138 ± 12 vs. 144 ± 13 kJ) based on an increase in glycolytic energy (81 ± 13 vs 88 ± 13 kJ). Hyperventilation-induced respiratory alkalosis can enhance WAnT cycling sprint performance well in the magnitude of what is seen after successful bicarbonate ingestion.

The acute effects of green tea and carbohydrate coingestion on systemic inflammation and oxidative stress during sprint cycling.

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, which may be beneficial to athletes performing high-intensity exercise. This study investigated the effects of carbohydrate and green tea coingestion on sprint cycling performance and associated oxidative stress and immunoendocrine responses to exercise. In a crossover design, 9 well-trained male cyclists completed 3 sets of 8 repetitions of 100-m uphill sprint cycling while ingesting green tea and carbohydrate (TEA) (22 mg/kg body mass catechins, 6 mg/kg body mass caffeine, 230 mg/kg glucose, and 110 mg/kg fructose) or carbohydrate only (CHO) (230 mg/kg body mass glucose and 110 mg/kg body mass fructose) during each 10-min recovery period between sets. Blood samples were collected before exercise, 10 min after exercise, and 14 h after exercise. There was no effect of acute TEA ingestion on cycling sprint performance (p = 0.29), although TEA maintained postexercise testosterone and lymphocyte concentrations, which decreased significantly in the CHO group (p < 0.001). While there was a trend for lower postexercise neutrophil count with TEA (p = 0.05), there were no significant differences between TEA and CHO for circulating cytokines (p > 0.20), markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity (p > 0.17), adiponectin concentration (p = 0.60), or muscle damage markers (p > 0.64). While acute green tea ingestion prevents the postexercise decrease in testosterone and lymphocytes, it does not appear to benefit cycling sprint performance or reduce markers of oxidation and inflammation when compared with carbohydrate alone.