Abstract
We examined the influence of prior time‐trials performed at different altitudes on subsequent exercise in moderate hypoxia and associated cardiometabolic and neuromuscular responses. In normobaric hypoxia (simulated altitude 2000 m; FiO(2): 0.163), 10 healthy males performed (1) an incremental test to exhaustion (VO (2max_2000)) and (2) a test to exhaustion at 80% of the power output associated to VO (2max_2000) for a reference time (947 ± 336 sec). Thereafter, two sessions were conducted in a randomized order: a cycle time‐trial corresponding to the reference time (TT (1)) followed 22 min later (passive rest at 2000 m) by a 6‐min cycle time‐trial (TT (2)). TT (1) was either performed at 2000 or 3500 m (FiO(2): 0.135), while TT (2) was always performed at 2000 m. As expected, during TT (1), the mean power output (247 ± 42 vs. 227 ± 37 W; P < 0.001) was higher at 2000 than 3500 m. During TT (2), the mean power output (256 ± 42 vs. 252 ± 36 W) did not differ between conditions. Before and after TT (1), maximal isometric voluntary contraction torque in knee extensors (pooled conditions: −7.9 ± 8.4%; P < 0.01), voluntary activation (−4.1 ± 3.1%; P < 0.05), and indices of muscle contractility (peak twitch torque: −39.1 ± 11.9%; doublet torques at 100 Hz: −15.4 ± 8.9%; 10/100 Hz ratio: −25.8 ± 7.7%; all P < 0.001) were equally reduced at 2000 m or 3500 m. Irrespective of the altitude of TT (1), neuromuscular function remained similarly depressed after TT (1) both before and after TT (2) at 2000 m. A prior time‐trial performed at different altitude influenced to the same extent performance and associated cardiometabolic and neuromuscular responses during a subsequent exercise in moderate hypoxia.