Concurrent strength and sprint training increases resting metabolic rate in masters road cyclists

Abstract

High-intensity concurrent sprint and strength training has been shown to provide a strong physiological training stimulus in young adult endurance athletes. However, the effect in veteran endurance athletes remains unknown. This study examined if replacing a portion of endurance training with concurrent sprint and strength training influenced resting metabolic rate (RMR) and lean mass (LM) in veteran endurance cyclists. Eighteen well-trained male veteran road cyclists (55.2 ± 8.4 years; 7.9 ± 1.1 training hrs/wk; 323 ± 53 Wpeak) were allocated to a concurrent strength and sprint training group (CT, n = 9) or control group (CON, n = 9). The CT group completed a 12-weeks of sprint and strength training while the CON group maintained their normal endurance training. RMR and LM were measured before and after the 12-week training intervention. CT training significantly (p < 0.05) increased both RMR (+14.2%, 1600 ± 244 to 1828 ± 207 kcal/day) and LM (+2.0%, 61.8 ± 5.5 to 63.1 ± 5.4 kg) pre to post-intervention. No significant changes from pre- to post-training were observed in the CON group. These findings suggest replacing a portion of endurance training with sprint and strength training may preserve, and even increase, LM and RMR in veteran road cyclists.