title: Warm-up strategy and high-intensity endurance performance in trained cyclists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of warm-up exercise intensity and subsequent recovery on intense endurance performance, selected blood variables, and the oxygen-uptake (VO2) response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve highly trained male cyclists (VO2max 72.4 ± 8.0 mL · min-1 · kg-1, incremental-test peak power output (iPPO) 432 ± 31 W; mean ± SD) performed 3 warm-up strategies lasting 20 min before a 4-min maximal-performance test (PT). Strategies consisted of moderate-intensity exercise (50%iPPO) followed by 6 min of recovery (MOD6) or progressive high-intensity exercise (10-100%iPPO and 2 × 20-s sprints) followed by recovery for 6 min (HI6) or 20 min (HI20).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before PT venous pH was lower (P < .001) in HI6 (7.27 ± 0.05) than in HI20 (7.34 ± 0.04) and MOD6 (7.35 ± 0.03). At the same time, differences (P < .001) existed for venous lactate in HI6 (8.2 ± 2.0 mmol/L), HI20 (5.1 ± 1.7 mmol/L), and MOD6 (1.4 ± 0.4 mmol/L), as well as for venous bicarbonate in HI6 (19.3 ± 2.6 mmol/L), HI20 (22.6 ± 2.3 mmol/L), and MOD6 (26.0 ± 1.4 mmol/L). Mean power in PT in HI6 (402 ± 38 W) tended to be lower (P = .11) than in HI20 (409 ± 34 W) and was lower (P = .007) than in MOD6 (416 ± 32 W). Total VO2 (15-120 s in PT) was higher in HI6 (8.18 ± 0.86 L) than in HI20 (7.85 ± 0.82 L, P = .008) and MOD6 (7.90 ± 0.74 L, P = .012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Warm-up exercise including race-pace and sprint intervals combined with short recovery can reduce subsequent performance in a 4-min maximal test in highly trained cyclists. Thus, a reduced time at high exercise intensity, a reduced intensity in the warm-up, or an extension of the recovery period after an intense warm-up is advocated.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bangsbo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000097:blood; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012119:Respiration; D013997:Time Factors; D063996:Warm-Up Exercise
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011188:Potassium