Hyperventilation reduces the decrease of power output in a repeated sprint training in cyclists

Objective: To evaluate the effect of hyperventilation during a repeated sprint training on a cycle ergometer. Method: Seven cyclists performed two training sessions (10 maximal sprints of 10 s, with 60 s of rest), one with free ventilatory frequency and another one with hyperventilation (the participants breathed 60 cycles per minute during the last 30 s of recovery). Power, fatigue index and blood lactate concentration were analyzed. Results: The lactate concentrations pre- and post-training did not differ between trainings. Regarding to the maximum absolute and relative power, no differences were found between sprints in the hyperventilation condition, however, the values obtained in the first four sprints were higher than the latter two (p < 0.05) in the normal condition. In relation to the mean absolute and relative power, differences were found between sprints in both conditions. In the hyperventilation condition the value of the first sprint was higher than the penultimate (p < 0.05), while in the normal condition, the value of the first sprint was greater than the last four (p < 0.05) and the value of the second sprint exceeded the last two ones (p < 0.05). For the fatigue index, both protocols showed differences from the first to the eighth sprint (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Despite the absence of differences in lactate concentration between normal condition and hyperventilation condition, hyperventilation between efforts during a repeated sprint training could reduce the decrease in power output on a cycle ergometer.