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Altitude Tents Do Not Impair Performance response To Short-term High Intensity Cycling Training

David. T. Martin, Tahnee Kinsman, Annette Eastwood, Melanie Platt, Carl Paton, Allan G. Haan. Australian Insititude of Sport, Belconnen, Australia. South Australian Institute of Sport, Adelaide, Australia. Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, New Zealand. Supported by an Australian Sports Commission Grant
Poster presentation, 2005 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) annual conference.

PURPOSE: to examine whether sleeping at simulated altitude during seven days of race-specific high-intensity cycling training interferes with cycling performance.
METHOD: Seven regionally competitive male cyclists completed seven days of high-intensity interval training at ~600m while sleeping each night in an altitude tent with an F1 O 2 of either ~30.5% (SL) or ~16.5% (ALT). There were two training sessions daily, each 90 minutes in duration composed of 66 maximal efforts of 5-15 seconds with competition work:relief ratios (1:1, 1:3, 1:6).
We used a double blind, repeated measures crossover design with a 2-wk washout period between treatments.
A maximal graded exercise test (GXT = 100W, inc. 50w every 5 mins) was completed before and 2D after each training block. A dietician ensured that daily carbohydrate intake during the seven days of interval training was >8g.kg-1.d-1.
RESULTS: Peak power during the GXT (Mean+/-SD) was lower(1) following SL and unchanged(2) following ALT.
Peak power during the GXT after interval training was higher following ALT than following SL(3)
(1) 377±42 to 358±42 W, p=.17
(2) 367±42 to 376±39 W, p=.41
(3) 19W, 49 to -9W; 90%CL

CONCLUSION:Sleeping at altitude during a week of high-intensity cycling training is unlikely to impair performance, and may in fact improve cycling GXT performance. Future research is needed to establish whether sleeping at higher altitudes or for longer durations interferes with performance adaptations to rigorous training.