Bicarbonate and Carbohydrate Co-Ingestion During Exercise in a Novel Gel Format Improves Time-Trial Performance After...

Sodium bicarbonate (SB) ingestion may improve high-intensity exercise performance in efforts that range from 1 to 60 min; however, to date, no studies have investigated the effects of SB supplementation during exercise, nor its potential to attenuate the fatigue-induced decline in parameters of the power-duration curve during prolonged exercise (i.e., durability). This study examined the effects of bicarbonate (BI) and carbohydrate (CHO) co-ingestion via a novel gel format during exercise on subsequent sprint and time-trial (TT) performance in cyclists. Eleven trained cyclists took part in this randomized, crossover study. Following one visit to establish a non-fatigued power profile (3 × 6-s sprints, 2-min TT and 12-min TT cycling performance), participants completed two experimental trials consisting of 3 h cycling at 95% gas exchange threshold and ingested CHO at a rate of 80 g·h^-1 with (CHO + BI; 18 g of SB and 2 g of potassium bicarbonate) or without BI co-ingestion (CHO). Participants repeated the same power profiling protocol after the 3 h submaximal exercise. Performance in the 12-min TT was improved in the CHO + BI condition compared with CHO (+12 W; p = 0.01, g = 1.07). Mean power output in the 6-s sprints (+12 W; p = 1.00, g = 0.18) and 2-min TT (+6 W; p = 0.888, g = 0.32) were not significantly different between CHO + BI and CHO. There were no differences in gastrointestinal symptoms between conditions. These data suggest that BI and CHO co-ingestion during prolonged exercise via a novel energy gel format improves subsequent 12-min TT performance in a fatigued state with minimal gastrointestinal discomfort.