Eur J Appl Physiol (2008) 102:659–666 DOI 10.1007/s00421-007-0641-2 123 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Strength training improves supramaximal cycling but not anaerobic capacity Clare Minahan · Catherine Wood Accepted: 25 November 2007 / Published online: 11 December 2007  Springer-Verlag 2007 Abstract This study examined supramaximal cycling performed to exhaustion at 120% of peak O 2 uptake (120% VO 2 peak) before and after 8 weeks of strength training. Eight previously untrained men completed 8 weeks of leg- strength training 3 days week ¡1 on a hack-squat machine; four sets, Wve repetitions at 85% of one repetition maxi- mum each session. Anaerobic capacity was quantiWed by determining the maximal accumulated O 2 deWcit during supramaximal cycling. After 8 weeks of strength training, one repetition maximum for the hack squat signiWcantly increased by 90 § 33% when compared to before training. However, 8 weeks of strength training did not increase the maximal accumulated O 2 deWcit. Nevertheless, after 8 weeks of strength training, there was a signiWcant increase in time to exhaustion for cycling at 120% VO 2 peak. The increase in time to exhaustion after 8 weeks of strength training was accompanied by a signiWcant increase in accumulated O 2 uptake. In conclusion, 8 weeks of strength training improves supramaximal cycling perfor- mance in previously untrained subjects. However, increases in time to exhaustion for supramaximal cycling following strength training are associated with an increase in the con- tribution of the aerobic energy system rather than an improvement in anaerobic capacity. Keywords Resistance training · Maximal accumulated O 2 deWcit · Anaerobic performance · Supramaximal exercise · Sprint cycling Introduction Successful performance during sports involving exhaustive short-duration eVorts (30 s–3 min, e.g., team games, 800-m run, 200-m swim) is dependent on the development of both anaerobic power and capacity (Maestu et al. 2005). Anaero- bic power is deWned as the maximal rate of anaerobic ATP production and can be determined by measuring peak power produced during 5–10 s of “all-out” sprint cycling (Inbar et al. 1996; Weber et al. 2006). Alternatively, anaer- obic capacity is the maximal amount of ATP produced anaerobically and can be determined by measuring the maximal accumulated oxygen (AO 2 ) deWcit during 2–3 min of exhaustive cycling at a constant work rate (Medbø et al. 1988). Anaerobic power (Sharp et al. 1986) and capacity (Medbø and Burgers 1990; Weber and Schneider 2002) can be signiWcantly increased with various high-intensity inter- val-training programs. In addition to high-intensity interval training, strength training has become a fundamental component of an ath- lete’s training program for sports involving exhaustive short-duration eVorts. As well as improvements in strength, Abernethy et al. (1994) stated that resistance training can elicit similar metabolic, enzymatic, and muscle ultra-struc- ture adaptations when compared to high-intensity interval training. MacDougall et al. (1977) employed a 5-mo resis- tance-training program (8–10 repetitions, 3–5 sets elbow extension) and suggested that increases in the storage of ATP and PCr following resistance training might be of beneWt in events such as sprinting. Several authors (Häkkinen et al. 1987; Inbar et al. 1996) have demonstrated a higher anaerobic power in resistance-trained (RT) compared to untrained (UT) individuals and improvements in anaerobic power have been elicited in individuals following a period of resistance training (Chromiak et al. 2004; Slade et al. C. Minahan (&) · C. Wood School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Gold Coast campus, GriYth University, PMB 50 Gold Coast Mail Centre, Gold Coast, QLD 9726, Australia e-mail: c.minahan@griYth.edu.au