Healthy AdultSTENDNCT07658300
Musculotendinous Adaptations to Strength and Endurance Training in Cyclists
A study testing Strength training and Endurance training in people with Healthy Adult and Cyclists, run by Lithuanian Sports University at 1 site in Lithuania.
Trial summary
This study investigated whether adding strength training to regular endurance training improves performance and muscle function in competitive cyclists. Endurance training is essential for cycling performance, while strength training has been widely recognised as a complementary strategy that may enhance performance… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 40 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Adult, Cyclists, Athletes
- What is being tested?
- Strength training and Endurance training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 24 participants
- Where
- 1 siteLithuania
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2023to 1 Jun 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 40 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male competitive cyclist
- Aged 18 to 40 years
- Minimum of 3 years of structured cycling training experience
- Actively competing during the previous cycling season
- Following a structured training programme with planned competitions
- Able to participate in all training sessions and testing procedures
- Free from medical conditions contraindicating high-intensity exercise
Who cannot join
- Current musculoskeletal injury or pain affecting training or performance
- History of major lower-limb injury within the past 10 years
- Presence of any cardiovascular, neurological, or metabolic disease
- Use of medications that may affect physical performance or training adaptations
- Inability to comply with the training programme or testing schedule
- Participation in another structured strength training programme during the study period
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Transient Neuromuscular and Muscle-Tendon Adaptations Following Strength vs Endurance-Only Training in Competitive-Level Cyclists
This study investigated whether adding strength training to regular endurance training improves performance and muscle function in competitive cyclists. Endurance training is essential for cycling performance, while strength training has been widely recognised as a complementary strategy that may enhance performance and reduce injury risk. However, in practice, strength training is often performed only during limited periods of the training season, and it remains unclear to what extent the adaptations achieved are maintained during subsequent phases of endurance-focused training.
Male competitive cyclists were assigned to either a 10-week off-season combined strength and endurance training programme or an endurance-only training programme. The strength training group performed two weekly strength sessions in addition to their usual cycling training, while the control group continued with endurance training only.
Read more
Participants were assessed at four time points: before the intervention, after the initial 10-week training period, after a high-volume endurance training camp, and during a competition preparation phase. Measurements included body composition, muscle strength, explosive force production, muscle and tendon structure, and cycling performance variables such as maximal power output and aerobic capacity.
The primary aim of the study was to determine whether short-term strength training enhances neuromuscular performance and muscle-tendon characteristics in trained cyclists, and whether these adaptations are maintained or reduced when strength training is discontinued. A secondary aim was to examine how these changes interact with endurance adaptations across different phases of the training season.
It was hypothesised that strength training would improve muscle strength, power, and muscle-tendon structure, but that these adaptations would be partially reduced during subsequent training phases without continued strength stimulus.
Read the detailed description
This study was designed to investigate the effects of adding a short-term strength training intervention to regular endurance training in competitive cyclists, with a particular focus on neuromuscular, muscle-tendon, and performance adaptations across different phases of the training season. The study also aimed to examine the persistence of these adaptations during subsequent periods characterised by endurance-only training.
The intervention was implemented during the off-season period and consisted of a 10-week training phase in which participants completed either a combined strength and endurance programme (ST) or an endurance-only programme (END). The strength training programme was integrated into the athletes' regular training routine and included two weekly sessions targeting major lower-limb muscle groups, with the objective of improving maximal strength and explosive force production. Training load and content were aligned with the athletes' overall training plans to ensure ecological validity within a competitive cycling context.
Following this initial training phase, all participants continued with their regular endurance training through two distinct phases of the competitive season. The first phase consisted of a high-volume endurance training camp, primarily aimed at increasing training load and aerobic conditioning. The second phase corresponded to a competition preparation period, characterised by adjustments in training intensity and volume to optimise performance for competition. This sequential design allowed the assessment of both the development and the retention of adaptations induced by strength training under realistic training conditions.
A comprehensive non-invasive testing battery was implemented to capture adaptations across multiple physiological and performance domains. Neuromuscular assessments included measures of maximal strength, maximal voluntary contraction, rate of force development, and sprint-specific mechanical variables. Muscle-tendon characteristics were evaluated using imaging-based assessments of quadriceps muscle thickness and patellar tendon morphology. In addition, cycling-specific performance was assessed through measures of maximal power output, sprint performance, aerobic capacity, and gross efficiency. Anthropometric measurements were also collected to monitor potential changes in body composition.
The study was conducted using a repeated-measures design with multiple time points spanning the transition from the off-season to the competition period. This approach enabled the evaluation of both short-term training effects and their evolution over time. Particular emphasis was placed on understanding the interaction between strength training-induced adaptations and subsequent endurance training stimuli, as well as the extent to which neuromuscular and structural adaptations are maintained in the absence of continued strength training.
Overall, the study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the role of strength training in endurance-trained athletes, addressing both its effectiveness as a complementary training modality and the temporal stability of the adaptations it induces within a typical competitive season.
- Conditions
- Healthy Adult, Cyclists, Athletes
- Being tested
- Strength training, Endurance training
- Keywords
- strength training, endurance training, cycling performance, skeletal muscle, tendon
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Strength trainingBehavioural
Participants allocated to the combined strength and endurance training group completed two supervised strength training sessions per week for 10 weeks in addition to their habitual cycling training. The strength programme targeted major lower-limb muscle groups (e.g., quadriceps, hip extensors) and was designed to improve maximal strength and explosive force production using multi-joint resistance exercises. Training variables (e.g., load, volume, progression) were adjusted throughout the intervention according to training phase. The endurance-only group continued their usual cycling training without additional strength training. Following the intervention, all participants performed endurance-only training during a high-volume training camp and a subsequent competition preparation phase.
Endurance trainingBehavioural
Also called Endurance only training
The endurance-only group continued their usual cycling training without additional strength training. Following the intervention, all participants performed endurance-only training during a high-volume training camp and a subsequent competition preparation phase.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance Training (END) | Active comparator | Endurance training group, performing their classical training routine Receives: Behavioral: Endurance training |
| Strength + Endurance Training (ST) | Experimental | Strength training group, performing 10-weeks off-season strength training (2 session/week) in addition to their endurance training routine. Receives: Behavioral: Strength training; Behavioral: Endurance training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Knee extensors strength - One repetition maximum (1RM) (kg)
Maximal strength (kg) for the leg extension was estimated from a five-repetition maximum (5RM) test conducted according to National Strength and Conditioning Association guidelines in two exercises (barbell squat and leg press). The corresponding 1RM values were estimated using the ExRx.net calculator.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Quadriceps muscles thickness (mm)
Quadriceps muscle thickness (mm) (vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, vastus medialis) assessed using B-mode ultrasound imaging.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (Nm)
Isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the knee extensors assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer (System 3; Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, USA). Following a 5-min warm-up on a cycle ergometer at a self-selected workload and cadence, participants were seated upright in the dynamometer chair with double shoulder straps securing the upper body and were verbally encouraged to exert maximal effort. Three MVC trials were performed at a knee joint angle of 70 o (full extension = 0 deg) and the highest peak torque (Nm) was used for analysis. Each trial was separated by 1 minute of rest, and two submaximal warm-up contractions were completed before testing.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Isokinetic peak torque (Nm)
Isokinetic concentric peak torque of the knee extensors assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer (System 3; Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, USA). Following a 5-min warm-up on a cycle ergometer at a self-selected workload and cadence, participants were seated upright in the dynamometer chair with double shoulder straps securing the upper body and were verbally encouraged to exert maximal effort. Three maximal concentric contractions performed at a knee joint angle of 70 deg (full extension = 0 deg) and at 60 deg/s, and the highest peak torque (Nm) was used for analysis. Each trial was separated by 1 minute of rest, and two submaximal warm-up contractions were completed before testing.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Patellar tendon cross-sectional area (mm2)
Patellar tendon morphological changes assessed using B-mode ultrasound imaging - cross-sectional area (square millimetres).
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Secondary outcomes (9)
Body mass (kg)
Body mass (kg) assessed using standard anthropometric methods.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Height (cm)
Height (cm) assessed using standard anthropometric methods.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2)
Body mass (kg) and height (m) will be used to calculate the body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2).
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Body fat %
To estimate body fat (%), skinfold thickness was assessed with a GIMA Skinfold Caliper, featuring a precision of 0.2 mm, at the following sites on the right side of the body: triceps, biceps, mid-axillary, chest, subscapular, abdominal, suprailiac, thigh, and calf. The percentage of fat mass (BF%) were derived using the Jackson and Pollock equation (7-sites) and by the Siri equation. BF% was calculated from body density (BD) using SIRI equation.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) (L/min, ml/min/kg)
For the determination of VO2max, participants initiated with a standardized warm-up at 120 W for 5-min, followed by an incremental ramp test protocol (20 W/min) on an electromagnetically braked ergometer (Lode Excalibur Sport, Lode BV). The cyclists were free to choose their pedaling cadence, and the ergometer's configuration was tailored to individual preferences and requisites. Real-time analysis of gas exchange was conducted using a spiroergometric device operating in breath-by-breath mode (MetaLyzer 3B, Cortex Biophysik), with the gas analyzer calibrated prior to each session. Heart rate was continuously monitored via a chest strap heart rate monitor (Polar H10, Polar Electro). The VO2max was determined as the highest consecutive 30-second rolling average value attained during the test.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Maximal aerobic power (MAP) (W, W/kg)
For the determination of maximal aerobic power (MAP), participants initiated with a standardized warm-up at 120 W for 5-min, followed by an incremental ramp test protocol (20 W/min) on an electromagnetically braked ergometer (Lode Excalibur Sport, Lode BV). The cyclists were free to choose their pedaling cadence, and the ergometer's configuration was tailored to individual preferences and requisites. The maximal aerobic power (MAP) was identified as the maximum sustained power value achieved for a minimum duration of 1 second during the test. Both variables were quantified i
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Cycling gross efficiency (%)
Cycling gross efficiency (GE) was measured employing the MetaLyzer (MetaLyzer 3B, Cortex Biophysik) for gas exchange analysis and the Excalibur Sport bike ergometer (Lode Excalibur Sport, Lode BV). After a 5-min warm up, participants sustained a consistent cadence of 75±2 rpm while pedaling for 8-min, exerting efforts at intensities corresponding to 45% of the MAP achieved during the maximal incremental exercise test. Gross efficiency (%) was calculated for each stage using the formula: (Total work)/(Energy expended )×100. Data validity was ascertained when the respiratory exchange ratio remained stable below 1, and calculations excluded the initial minute to ensure the attainment of gas exchange plateau.
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Sprint peak power (W, W/kg)
To ensure procedural familiarity, each athlete participated in two simulation trials (i.e., spinning till sprint start and holding the sprint session for 1-2 seconds approximately) before the official 6-sec sprint commenced. Subsequently, participants exerted their utmost sprinting effort throughout the entire 6 s duration while receiving robust verbal encouragement. The Excalibur Sport bike ergometer (Lode Excalibur Sport, Lode BV) was employed for this sprint test, with the resistance (torque factor) set at 0.75 N×kg-1 of body mass and equipped with cyclist preferred pedals. The resistance was applied with a cadence threshold of 100 rpm, following a 30 s warm-up at 150 W. The sprint 1-s peak power was quantified both in absolute terms and relative to the participant's body mass (W, W/kg).
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Sprint peak crank torque (Nm, Nm/kg)
To ensure procedural familiarity, each athlete participated in two simulation trials (i.e., spinning till sprint start and holding the sprint session for 1-2 seconds approximately) before the official 6-sec sprint commenced. Subsequently, participants exerted their utmost sprinting effort throughout the entire 6 s duration while receiving robust verbal encouragement. The Excalibur Sport bike ergometer (Lode Excalibur Sport, Lode BV) was employed for this sprint test, with the resistance (torque factor) set at 0.75 N×kg-1 of body mass and equipped with cyclist preferred pedals. The resistance was applied with a cadence threshold of 100 rpm, following a 30 s warm-up at 150 W. The sprint 1-s peak crank torque was quantified both in absolute terms and relative to the participant's body mass (Nm, Nm/kg).
Measured: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Jun 2026
- Study start1 Sep 2023
- Primary completion1 Jun 2024
- Study completion1 Jun 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (7)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Healthy AdultStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Lithuanian Sports University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07658300
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MNl-SVa(M)-2023-578
- Acronym
- STEND
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 18 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant personal data will not be made publicly available due to institutional regulations, ethical considerations, and data protection requirements.
Publications
Cesanelli L, Ammar A, Arede J, Calleja-Gonzalez J, Leite N. Performance indicators and functional adaptive windows in competitive cyclists: effect of one-year strength and conditioning training programme. Biol Sport. 2022 Mar;39(2):329-340. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2022.105334. Epub 2021 Apr 21.
PubMed 35309528Bini RR, Flores Bini A. Potential factors associated with knee pain in cyclists: a systematic review. Open Access J Sports Med. 2018 May 23;9:99-106. doi: 10.2147/OAJSM.S136653. eCollection 2018.
PubMed 29872355Bohm S, Mersmann F, Arampatzis A. Human tendon adaptation in response to mechanical loading: a systematic review and meta-analysis of exercise intervention studies on healthy adults. Sports Med Open. 2015 Dec;1(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s40798-015-0009-9. Epub 2015 Mar 27.
PubMed 27747846Ronnestad BR, Mujika I. Optimizing strength training for running and cycling endurance performance: A review. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2014 Aug;24(4):603-12. doi: 10.1111/sms.12104. Epub 2013 Aug 5.
PubMed 23914932Pallares JG, Barranco-Gil D, Rodriguez-Rielves V, de Pablos R, Buendia-Romero A, Martinez-Cava A, Franco-Lopez F, Sanchez-Redondo IR, Iriberri J, Revuelta C, Lillo-Bevia JR, Valenzuela PL, Lucia A, Hernandez-Belmonte A, Alejo LB. Cyclists do not need to incorporate off-bike resistance training to increase strength, muscle-tendon structure, and pedaling performance: Exploring a high-intensity on-bike method. Biol Sport. 2025 Feb 5;42(3):185-195. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2025.146790. eCollection 2025 Jul.
PubMed 40657002Mujika I, Ronnestad BR, Martin DT. Effects of Increased Muscle Strength and Muscle Mass on Endurance-Cycling Performance. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2016 Apr;11(3):283-9. doi: 10.1123/IJSPP.2015-0405.
PubMed 27068517Vikestad V, Lyngstad IK, Dalen T. Strength training among professional UCI road cyclists: Practices, challenges, and rationales. PLoS One. 2025 Jul 10;20(7):e0328195. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0328195. eCollection 2025.
PubMed 40638631
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Transient Neuromuscular and Muscle-Tendon Adaptations Following Strength vs Endurance-Only Training in Competitive-Level Cyclists
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07658300
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STEND / MNl-SVa(M)-2023-578
- Conditions
- Healthy Adult, Cyclists, Athletes
- Keywords
- strength training, endurance training, cycling performance, skeletal muscle, tendon
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 24 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Lithuanian Sports UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jun 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 18 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study investigated whether adding strength training to regular endurance training improves performance and muscle function in competitive cyclists. Endurance training is essential for cycling performance, while strength training has been widely recognised as a complementary strategy that may enhance performance and reduce injury risk. However, in practice, strength training is often performed only during limited periods of the training season, and it remains unclear to what extent the adaptations achieved are maintained during subsequent phases of endurance-focused training.
Male competitive cyclists were assigned to either a 10-week off-season combined strength and endurance training programme or an endurance-only training programme. The strength training group performed two weekly strength sessions in addition to their usual cycling training, while the control group continued with endurance training only.
Participants were assessed at four time points: before the intervention, after the initial 10-week training period, after a high-volume endurance training camp, and during a competition preparation phase. Measurements included body composition, muscle strength, explosive force production, muscle and tendon structure, and cycling performance variables such as maximal power output and aerobic capacity.
The primary aim of the study was to determine whether short-term strength training enhances neuromuscular performance and muscle-tendon characteristics in trained cyclists, and whether these adaptations are maintained or reduced when strength training is discontinued. A secondary aim was to examine how these changes interact with endurance adaptations across different phases of the training season.
It was hypothesised that strength training would improve muscle strength, power, and muscle-tendon structure, but that these adaptations would be partially reduced during subsequent training phases without continued strength stimulus.
Detailed description
This study was designed to investigate the effects of adding a short-term strength training intervention to regular endurance training in competitive cyclists, with a particular focus on neuromuscular, muscle-tendon, and performance adaptations across different phases of the training season. The study also aimed to examine the persistence of these adaptations during subsequent periods characterised by endurance-only training.
The intervention was implemented during the off-season period and consisted of a 10-week training phase in which participants completed either a combined strength and endurance programme (ST) or an endurance-only programme (END). The strength training programme was integrated into the athletes' regular training routine and included two weekly sessions targeting major lower-limb muscle groups, with the objective of improving maximal strength and explosive force production. Training load and content were aligned with the athletes' overall training plans to ensure ecological validity within a competitive cycling context.
Following this initial training phase, all participants continued with their regular endurance training through two distinct phases of the competitive season. The first phase consisted of a high-volume endurance training camp, primarily aimed at increasing training load and aerobic conditioning. The second phase corresponded to a competition preparation period, characterised by adjustments in training intensity and volume to optimise performance for competition. This sequential design allowed the assessment of both the development and the retention of adaptations induced by strength training under realistic training conditions.
A comprehensive non-invasive testing battery was implemented to capture adaptations across multiple physiological and performance domains. Neuromuscular assessments included measures of maximal strength, maximal voluntary contraction, rate of force development, and sprint-specific mechanical variables. Muscle-tendon characteristics were evaluated using imaging-based assessments of quadriceps muscle thickness and patellar tendon morphology. In addition, cycling-specific performance was assessed through measures of maximal power output, sprint performance, aerobic capacity, and gross efficiency. Anthropometric measurements were also collected to monitor potential changes in body composition.
The study was conducted using a repeated-measures design with multiple time points spanning the transition from the off-season to the competition period. This approach enabled the evaluation of both short-term training effects and their evolution over time. Particular emphasis was placed on understanding the interaction between strength training-induced adaptations and subsequent endurance training stimuli, as well as the extent to which neuromuscular and structural adaptations are maintained in the absence of continued strength training.
Overall, the study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the role of strength training in endurance-trained athletes, addressing both its effectiveness as a complementary training modality and the temporal stability of the adaptations it induces within a typical competitive season.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Endurance Training (END) | Active comparator | Behavioral: Endurance trainingEndurance training group, performing their classical training routine |
| Strength + Endurance Training (ST) | Experimental | Behavioral: Strength training, Behavioral: Endurance trainingStrength training group, performing 10-weeks off-season strength training (2 session/week) in addition to their endurance training routine. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 40 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Male competitive cyclist
- Aged 18 to 40 years
- Minimum of 3 years of structured cycling training experience
- Actively competing during the previous cycling season
- Following a structured training programme with planned competitions
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Current musculoskeletal injury or pain affecting training or performance
- History of major lower-limb injury within the past 10 years
- Presence of any cardiovascular, neurological, or metabolic disease
- Use of medications that may affect physical performance or training adaptations
- Inability to comply with the training programme or testing schedule
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Strength trainingParticipants allocated to the combined strength and endurance training group completed two supervised strength training sessions per week for 10 weeks in addition to their habitual cycling training. The strength programme targeted major lower-limb muscle groups (e.g., quadriceps, hip extensors) and was designed to improve maximal strength and explosive force production using multi-joint resistance exercises. Training variables (e.g., load, volume, progression) were adjusted throughout the intervention according to training phase. The endurance-only group continued their usual cycling training without additional strength training. Following the intervention, all participants performed endurance-only training during a high-volume training camp and a subsequent competition preparation phase. | Behavioural | Strength + Endurance Training (ST) |
| Endurance trainingAlso: Endurance only trainingThe endurance-only group continued their usual cycling training without additional strength training. Following the intervention, all participants performed endurance-only training during a high-volume training camp and a subsequent competition preparation phase. | Behavioural | Endurance Training (END), Strength + Endurance Training (ST) |
Primary outcome
Knee extensors strength - One repetition maximum (1RM) (kg)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Maximal strength (kg) for the leg extension was estimated from a five-repetition maximum (5RM) test conducted according to National Strength and Conditioning Association guidelines in two exercises (barbell squat and leg press). The corresponding 1RM values were estimated using the ExRx.net calculator.
Quadriceps muscles thickness (mm)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Quadriceps muscle thickness (mm) (vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, vastus medialis) assessed using B-mode ultrasound imaging.
Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (Nm)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the knee extensors assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer (System 3; Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, USA). Following a 5-min warm-up on a cycle ergometer at a self-selected workload and cadence, participants were seated upright in the dynamometer chair with double shoulder straps securing the upper body and were verbally encouraged to exert maximal effort. Three MVC trials were performed at a knee joint angle of 70 o (full extension = 0 deg) and the highest peak torque (Nm) was used for analysis. Each trial was separated by 1 minute of rest, and two submaximal warm-up contractions were completed before testing.
Isokinetic peak torque (Nm)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Isokinetic concentric peak torque of the knee extensors assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer (System 3; Biodex Medical Systems, Shirley, NY, USA). Following a 5-min warm-up on a cycle ergometer at a self-selected workload and cadence, participants were seated upright in the dynamometer chair with double shoulder straps securing the upper body and were verbally encouraged to exert maximal effort. Three maximal concentric contractions performed at a knee joint angle of 70 deg (full extension = 0 deg) and at 60 deg/s, and the highest peak torque (Nm) was used for analysis. Each trial was separated by 1 minute of rest, and two submaximal warm-up contractions were completed before testing.
Patellar tendon cross-sectional area (mm2)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Patellar tendon morphological changes assessed using B-mode ultrasound imaging - cross-sectional area (square millimetres).
9 secondary outcomes
Body mass (kg)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Height (cm)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Body fat %
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) (L/min, ml/min/kg)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Maximal aerobic power (MAP) (W, W/kg)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Cycling gross efficiency (%)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Sprint peak power (W, W/kg)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Sprint peak crank torque (Nm, Nm/kg)
Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Jun 2026.
- Background: PubMed 35309528Cesanelli L, Ammar A, Arede J, Calleja-Gonzalez J, Leite N. Performance indicators and functional adaptive windows in competitive cyclists: effect of one-year strength and conditioning training programme. Biol Sport. 2022 Mar;39(2):329-340. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2022.105334. Epub 2021 Apr 21.
- Background: PubMed 29872355Bini RR, Flores Bini A. Potential factors associated with knee pain in cyclists: a systematic review. Open Access J Sports Med. 2018 May 23;9:99-106. doi: 10.2147/OAJSM.S136653. eCollection 2018.
- Background: PubMed 27747846Bohm S, Mersmann F, Arampatzis A. Human tendon adaptation in response to mechanical loading: a systematic review and meta-analysis of exercise intervention studies on healthy adults. Sports Med Open. 2015 Dec;1(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s40798-015-0009-9. Epub 2015 Mar 27.
- Background: PubMed 23914932Ronnestad BR, Mujika I. Optimizing strength training for running and cycling endurance performance: A review. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2014 Aug;24(4):603-12. doi: 10.1111/sms.12104. Epub 2013 Aug 5.
- Background: PubMed 40657002Pallares JG, Barranco-Gil D, Rodriguez-Rielves V, de Pablos R, Buendia-Romero A, Martinez-Cava A, Franco-Lopez F, Sanchez-Redondo IR, Iriberri J, Revuelta C, Lillo-Bevia JR, Valenzuela PL, Lucia A, Hernandez-Belmonte A, Alejo LB. Cyclists do not need to incorporate off-bike resistance training to increase strength, muscle-tendon structure, and pedaling performance: Exploring a high-intensity on-bike method. Biol Sport. 2025 Feb 5;42(3):185-195. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2025.146790. eCollection 2025 Jul.
- Background: PubMed 27068517Mujika I, Ronnestad BR, Martin DT. Effects of Increased Muscle Strength and Muscle Mass on Endurance-Cycling Performance. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2016 Apr;11(3):283-9. doi: 10.1123/IJSPP.2015-0405.
- Background: PubMed 40638631Vikestad V, Lyngstad IK, Dalen T. Strength training among professional UCI road cyclists: Practices, challenges, and rationales. PLoS One. 2025 Jul 10;20(7):e0328195. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0328195. eCollection 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant personal data will not be made publicly available due to institutional regulations, ethical considerations, and data protection requirements.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Strength training and Endurance training in people with Healthy Adult and Cyclists, run by Lithuanian Sports University at 1 site in Lithuania.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Lithuania. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Knee extensors strength - One repetition maximum (1RM) (kg) (time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 10, Week 14, and Week 18). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07658300, which also lists 7 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Jun 2026.