Superior performance improvements in elite cyclists following short-interval vs effort-matched long-interval training

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 3 weeks with three weekly sessions (ie, nine sessions in total) of short intervals (SI; n = 9; 3 series with 13 × 30-second work intervals interspersed with 15-second recovery and 3-minutes recovery between series) against effort-matched (rate of perceived effort based) long intervals (LI; n = 9; 4 series of 5-minute work intervals with 2.5-minutes recovery between series) on performance parameters in elite cyclists ((Formula presented.) 73 ± 4 mL min−1 kg−1). There were no differences between groups in total volume and intensity distribution of training during the intervention period. SI achieved a larger (P