The influence of cyclists' performance levels on
caffeine-induced increases in neuromuscular
fatigue after a 4-km cycling time trial (TT) was investigated. Nineteen cyclists performed a 4-km cycling TT 1 h after ingesting
caffeine (5 mg·kg-1) or placebo (
cellulose). Changes from baseline to after exercise in voluntary activation (VA) and potentiated 1 Hz force twitch (Qtw,pot) were used as markers of central and peripheral
fatigue, respectively. Participants were classified as "high performing" (HP, n = 8) or "low performing" (LP, n = 8) in accordance with their performance in a placebo trial. Compared with placebo,
caffeine increased the power, anaerobic mechanical power, and anaerobic work, reducing the time to complete the trial in both groups (p < 0.05). There was a group versus supplement and a group versus supplement versus trial interaction for Qtw,pot, in which the postexercise reduction was greater after
caffeine compared with placebo in the LP group (Qtw,pot = -34% ± 17% vs. -21% ± 11%, p = 0.02) but not in the HP group (Qtw,pot = -22% ± 8% vs. -23% ± 10%, p = 0.64). There was no effect of
caffeine on VA, but there was a group versus trial interaction with lower postexercise values in the LP group than in the HP group (p = 0.03).
Caffeine-induced improvement in 4-km cycling TT performance seems to come at the expense of greater locomotor muscle fatigue in LP but not in HP cyclists. Novelty
Caffeine improves exercise performance at the expense of a greater end-exercise peripheral
fatigue in low-performing athletes.
Caffeine-induced improvement in exercise performance does not affect end-exercise peripheral
fatigue in high-performing athletes. High-performing athletes seem to have augmented tolerance to central
fatigue during a high-intensity time trial.