Transient Neuromuscular and Muscle-Tendon Adaptations Following Strength vs Endurance-Only Training in Competitive-Level Cyclists
Transient Neuromuscular and Muscle-Tendon Adaptations Following Strength vs Endurance-Only Training in Competitive-Level Cyclists
This study investigated whether adding strength training to regular endurance training improves performance and muscle function in competitive cyclists. Endurance training is essential for cycling performance, while strength training has been widely recognised as a complementary strategy that may enhance performance and reduce injury risk. However, in practice, strength training is often performed only during limited periods of the training season, and it remains unclear to what extent the adaptations achieved are maintained during subsequent phases of endurance-focused training.
Male competitive cyclists were assigned to either a 10-week off-season combined strength and endurance training programme or an endurance-only training programme. The strength training group performed two weekly strength sessions in addition to their usual cycling training, while the control group continued with endurance training only.
Participants were assessed at four time points: before the intervention, after the initial 10-week training period, after a high-volume endurance training camp, and during a competition preparation phase. Measurements included body composition, muscle strength, explosive force production, muscle and tendon structure, and cycling performance variables such as maximal power output and aerobic capacity.
The primary aim of the study was to determine whether short-term strength training enhances neuromuscular performance and muscle-tendon characteristics in trained cyclists, and whether these adaptations are maintained or reduced when strength training is discontinued. A secondary aim was to examine how these changes interact with endurance adaptations across different phases of the training season.
It was hypothesised that strength training would improve muscle strength, power, and muscle-tendon structure, but that these adaptations would be partially reduced during subsequent training phases without continued strength stimulus.
This study was designed to investigate the effects of adding a short-term strength training intervention to regular endurance training in competitive cyclists, with a particular focus on neuromuscular, muscle-tendon, and performance adaptations across different phases of the training season. The study also aimed to examine the persistence of these adaptations during subsequent periods characterised by endurance-only training.
The intervention was implemented during the off-season period and consisted of a 10-week training phase in which participants completed either a combined strength and endurance programme (ST) or an endurance-only programme (END). The strength training programme was integrated into the athletes' regular training routine and included two weekly sessions targeting major lower-limb muscle groups, with the objective of improving maximal strength and explosive force production. Training load and content were aligned with the athletes' overall training plans to ensure ecological validity within a competitive cycling context.
Following this initial training phase, all participants continued with their regular endurance training through two distinct phases of the competitive season. The first phase consisted of a high-volume endurance training camp, primarily aimed at increasing training load and aerobic conditioning. The second phase corresponded to a competition preparation period, characterised by adjustments in training intensity and volume to optimise performance for competition. This sequential design allowed the assessment of both the development and the retention of adaptations induced by strength training under realistic training conditions.
A comprehensive non-invasive testing battery was implemented to capture adaptations across multiple physiological and performance domains. Neuromuscular assessments included measures of maximal strength, maximal voluntary contraction, rate of force development, and sprint-specific mechanical variables. Muscle-tendon characteristics were evaluated using imaging-based assessments of quadriceps muscle thickness and patellar tendon morphology. In addition, cycling-specific performance was assessed through measures of maximal power output, sprint performance, aerobic capacity, and gross efficiency. Anthropometric measurements were also collected to monitor potential changes in body composition.
The study was conducted using a repeated-measures design with multiple time points spanning the transition from the off-season to the competition period. This approach enabled the evaluation of both short-term training effects and their evolution over time. Particular emphasis was placed on understanding the interaction between strength training-induced adaptations and subsequent endurance training stimuli, as well as the extent to which neuromuscular and structural adaptations are maintained in the absence of continued strength training.
Overall, the study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the role of strength training in endurance-trained athletes, addressing both its effectiveness as a complementary training modality and the temporal stability of the adaptations it induces within a typical competitive season.
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