Effect of recovery interval on multiple-bout sprint cycling performance after acute creatine supplementation

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of varying recovery intervals on multiple-bout, short-duration, high-intensity cycling efforts of adult men supplemented with creatine (Cr) or a placebo (Pl). Thirty subjects underwent 3 trials of a maximal cycling protocol (T₀, T₁, T₂). T₀ included V̇O₂max testing and familiarization with the sprint cycling protocol. T₁ consisted of 8 15-second bouts of sprint cycling exercise. Subjects were randomly assigned to recovery interval groups (1 minute, 3 minutes, 6 minutes), and Cr or Pl groups (0.3 g·kg^-1·d^-1). Posttesting (T₂) took place 7 days after T₁ and consisted of an identical protocol as during T₁. Changes in mean power (MP), peak power (PP), and fatigue index (FI) were compared between trials. MP was significantly increased in Cr 1-minute, Cr 3-minute, and Pl 6-minute groups (p < 0.05). Significant PP increases were demonstrated in Cr 1-minute and Pl 6-minute groups (p < 0.05), and FI significantly increased in Pl 1-minute group (p < 0.05). Results indicate that Cr supplementation is effective in improving recovery from repeated sprint cycling performances when the recovery interval is of a short (<6 minutes) duration.