Anaerobic capacity estimated by a single effort distinguishes training status in male cyclists

Background Measurement of anaerobic capacity through estimating the glycolytic and phosphagen energy pathways (AC [La]+PCr ) has been considered a time-efficient, valid, and reproducible method, however, the sensitivity of this protocol to discriminate training levels in cyclists has not yet been elucidated. Aims The main purpose of the present investigation was to verify the sensitivity of AC [La]+PCr to distinguish the anaerobic capacity of male cyclists with different training status. Methods Fifty-five healthy men performed a maximum incremental test to determine maximal oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2max ) and the intensity associated with it ( i V ˙ O 2max ) , and a constant-load supramaximal-intensity cycling exercise at 115% of the i V ˙ O 2max to determine anaerobic capacity through AC [La]+PCr . Results According to performance in the incremental test, 20 subjects were classified as untrained ( V ˙ O 2max = 2.92 ± 0.28 L min −1 ), 25 classified as recreationally trained ( V ˙ O 2max 3.78 ± 0.19 L min −1 ), and 10 classified as trained ( V ˙ O 2max = 4.36 ± 0.41 L min −1 ). Expressed in absolute values, the trained group presented higher anaerobic capacity measured through AC [La]+PCr [4.82 ± 1.07 L (4.05–5.59 L)] than the recreationally trained [4.13 ± 0.64 L (3.87–4.4 L)] ( p = 0.027) and untrained groups [3.22 ± 0.42 L (3.02–3.42 L)] ( p = 0.001). In addition, the recreationally trained group also demonstrated significantly higher anaerobic capacity values than the untrained group ( p = 0.001). Conclusion The AC [La]+PCr was sensitive to discriminate the anaerobic capacity between trained, recreationally trained, and untrained male cyclists.