Determinants of repeated-sprint ability in well-trained team-sport athletes and endurance-trained athletes

To examine the importance of peak .VO(2) in determining repeated-sprint ability (RSA), we recruited 20 well-trained females (10 team-sport athletes and 10 endurance-trained runners; mean SD peak .VO(2): 3.3+/-0.2 L x min(-1)) who were homogenous with respect to peak .VO(2) (mean difference = 0.05 L x min(-1)).

Tests consisted of a RSA cycle test (5 x 6-s max sprints every 30 s) and a peak .VO(2) test. Venous and capillary blood was sampled immediately before and after the 5 x 6-s cycle test for the determination of hypoxanthine concentration ([Hx]), lactate concentration ([La-]) and pH; blood buffer capacity (beta(blood)) was also estimated.

The team-sport athletes had significantly higher peak power for the 1(st) sprint (P(1); W x kg(-1)), total work for 5 x 6-s sprints (W(tot); J x kg(-1)) and power decrement across the 5 sprints (P(dec)), (p<0.05). There were also significant between-group differences for post-test values of [Hx], [La-] and pH (p<0.05). While there was no significant difference in beta(blood) between the 2 groups (p=0.10), there was a moderate effect (d=0.77).

These results suggest that factors in addition to peak .VO(2) are likely to be important for RSA.