) were randomly allocated into a control group that kept their habitual cycling training (n = 15), or to two groups that added two weekly torque sessions performed with either a high relative load (HIGH-Load n = 16, all-out pedaling cycles against 70% of the maximum dynamic force); or low relative load (LOW-Load n = 15, 4-min intervals against 35% of the maximum dynamic force). Outcomes included performance indicators (i.e., maximum aerobic power MAP, ventilatory thresholds, efficiency, time to exhaustion at the respiratory compensation point), body composition and quadriceps' morphological parameters. In within-group analyses, only HIGH-Load improved Wingate peak and mean power (p 0.5 for MAP, Wingate performance and TTE). In summary, HIGH-Load torque training seems to improve different performance indicators and muscle morphology among well-trained cyclists, although its superiority compared to other torque training interventions should be confirmed in larger studies.
Pablos et al. (Fri,) studied this question.