The influence of cadence on fatigue during maximal sprint cycling in world-class and elite sprint cyclists

Optimising cadence through appropriate gear selection is a key consideration for track sprint cycling performance, yet the influence of cadence on fatigue (i.e., decrement in power output) within a maximal sprint is not well understood. The aim of this study was to identify the influence of cadence on fatigue during maximal sprint cycling. Eleven world-class and elite track sprint cyclists (n = 6 men, maximal power output (P_max) = 1894 ± 351 W, optimal cadence (F_opt) = 134 ± 8 rev∙min^-1: n = 5 women, P_max = 1114 ± 80 W, F_opt = 124 ± 8 rev∙min^-1) completed two testing sessions where power-cadence profiles were constructed to determine the F_opt associated with P_max. Cyclists also performed three maximal 15-s sprints (F_opt, ±15%F_opt) to identify fatigue per pedal stroke across these cadence ranges. There was no significant difference (p = 0.2) in the absolute fatigue per pedal stroke when cadence was fixed 15% above (16.7 ± 6.1 W∙stroke^-1) and below (15.3 ± 5.1 W∙stroke^-1) F_opt. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the relative fatigue per pedal stroke (% peak power∙stroke^-1) across F_opt and ± 15%F_opt trials (p = 0.12). The relative decrement in power output is equivalent across the ± 15%F_opt cadence range. As such, a higher-geared, lower-cadence approach to maximal sprint cycling could be a viable method to minimise maximal pedal strokes and reduce the decrement in power output.