DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000005732 ISSN: 1064-8011
Ergocycling-Based Repeated-Sprint Training in Hypoxia Performed at Either 3,000 m or 2,000 m Similarly Impacts Overground Performance in Under-18 Field Hockey Players
Dorian Le Moan, Jean Slawinski, Léa Lecru, Eric Braize, Franck Brocherie, Janne Bouten ABSTRACT
Le Moan, D, Slawinski, J, Lecru, L, Braize, E, Brocherie, F, and Bouten, J. Ergocycling-based repeated-sprint training in hypoxia performed at either 3,000 m or 2,000 m similarly impacts overground performance in under-18 field hockey players.
J Strength Cond Res
XX(X): 000–000, 2026—This study aimed to compare the effects of 2 levels of hypoxic stress during ergocycling-based repeated-sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) on overground repeated-sprint ability (RSA). Fifteen highly trained under-18 male field hockey players performed a 3-week training program with 6 ergocycling-based RSH sessions (3 × 6 10-s “all-out” sprints with 20-second intraset passive recovery and 5-minute interset rest; 2 sessions per week) under moderate (MH, F
i
O
2
14.5%, simulated altitude of 3,000 m,
n
= 8) or low normobaric hypoxia (LH, F
i
O
2
16.3%, 2,000 m,
n
= 7). Peak (PPO) and mean power output (MPO) were recorded during each RSH session. At Pre- and Postintervention, overground sprinting horizontal force-velocity profiles and RSA test (6 × 20-m “all-out” sprints interspersed by 20 seconds) were performed. Ergocycling-based PPO (
p
< 0.001) and MPO (
p
= 0.015) improved significantly for both groups from training 1 to 6. However, overground theoretical maximal force and theoretical maximal power remained unchanged (both
p
> 0.377), and theoretical maximal velocity (
p
= 0.026) was significantly decreased for both groups. Although no significant effect (time, group, interaction) was observed for overground RSA best time and sprint decrement (all
p
> 0.139), RSA total time decreased (
p
= 0.048) in both MH and LH (−1.1 ± 2.9% and −0.9 ± 1.0%), indicating performance enhancement, irrespective of the hypoxic stress. Using moderate or low normobaric hypoxic stress during a 3-week ergocycling-based RSH intervention resulted in similar improvement during training, albeit with limited, but not negligible, transferability effect in overground performance.