Caffeine and Sprint Cycling Performance: Effects of Torque Factor and Sprint Duration.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of torque factor and sprint duration on the effects of caffeine on sprint cycling performance.

METHODS: Using a counterbalanced, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 13 men completed nine trials. In Trial 1, participants completed a series of 6 s sprints at increasing torque factors, to determine the torque factor, for each individual, which elicited the highest (TOPTIMAL ) peak power output (PPO). The remaining trials involved all combinations of torque factor (0.8 N∙m∙kg-1 versus TOPTIMAL ), sprint duration (10 s versus 30 s), and supplementation (caffeine [5 mg∙kg-1 ] versus placebo).

RESULTS: There was a significant effect of torque factor on PPO, with higher values at TOPTIMAL (mean difference: 168 W; 95% likely range: 142 - 195 W). There was also a significant effect of sprint duration on PPO, with higher values in 10 s sprints (mean difference: 52 W; 95% likely range: 18 - 86 W). However, there was no effect of supplementation on PPO (p = 0.056). Nevertheless, there was a significant torque factor × sprint duration × supplement interaction (p = 0.036), with post hoc tests revealing that caffeine produced a higher PPO (mean difference: 76 W; 95% likely range: 19 - 133 W) when the sprint duration was 10 s and the torque factor was TOPTIMAL .

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that when torque factor and sprint duration are optimized, to allow participants to express their highest PPO, there is a clear effect of caffeine on sprinting performance.