Determinants of repeated-sprint ability in well-trained team-sport athletes and endurance-trained athletes

Aim. To examine the importance of peak VO2 in determining repeated-sprint ability (RSA), we recruited 20 well-trained females (10 team-sport athletes and 10 endurance-trained runners; mean SD peak VO2: 3.3 +/- 0.2 L.min(-1)) who were homogenous with respect to peak VO2 (mean difference = 0.05 L.min(-1)). Methods. Tests consisted of a RSA cycle test (5x6-s max sprints every 30 s) and a peak VO2 test. Venous and capillary blood was sampled immediately before and after the 5x6-s cycle test for the determination of hypoxanthine concentration ([Hx]), lactate concentration ([La-]) and pH; blood buffer capacity (beta(blood)) was also estimated. Results. The team-sport athletes had significantly higher peak power for the 1st sprint (P-1; W.kg(-1)), total work for 5x6-s sprints (W-tot; J.kg(-1)) and power decrement across the 5 sprints (P-dec), (p<0.05). There were also significant between-group differences for post-test values of [Hx], [La-] and pH (p<0.05). While there was no significant difference in beta(blood) between the 2 groups (p=0.10), there was a moderate effect (d=0.77). Conclusion. These results suggest that factors in addition to peak VO2 are likely to be important for RSA.