title: Exploring the performance reserve: Effect of different magnitudes of power output deception on 4,000 m cycling time-trial performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a magnitude of deception of 5% in power output would lead to a greater reduction in the amount of time taken for participants to complete a 4000 m cycling TT than a magnitude of deception of 2% in power output, which we have previously shown can lead to a small change in 4000 m cycling TT performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten trained male cyclists completed four, 4000 m cycling TTs. The first served as a habituation and the second as a baseline for future trials. During trials three and four participants raced against a pacer which was set, in a randomized order, at a mean power output equal to 2% (+2% TT) or 5% (+5% TT) higher than their baseline performance. However participants were misled into believing that the power output of the pacer was an accurate representation of their baseline performance on both occasions. Cardiorespiratory responses were recorded throughout each TT, and used to estimate energy contribution from aerobic and anaerobic metabolism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were able to finish the +2% TT in a significantly shorter duration than at baseline (p = 0.01), with the difference in performance likely attributable to a greater anaerobic contribution to total power output (p = 0.06). There was no difference in performance between the +5% TT and +2% TT or baseline trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that a performance reserve is conserved, involving anaerobic energy contribution, which can be utilised given a belief that the exercise will be sustainable however there is an upper limit to how much deception can be tolerated. These findings have implications for performance enhancement in athletes and for our understanding of the nature of fatigue during high-intensity exercise.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Human Performance, Health and Wellbeing, Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.affiliation: School of Health, Sport and Human Performance, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: St Clair Gibson
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise (UCRISE), University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid