High-Torque Interval Warm-Up Increases Internal Load Compared With a Classic Protocol but Does Not Affect Subsequent Time-Trial Performance

PURPOSE: Short cycling time trials (TTs), such as prologues, demand maximal power and precise neuromuscular coordination from the start, making warm-up strategy crucial. This study compared the physiological, perceptual, and performance effects of a classic warm-up and a high-torque interval warm-up (WUT) before a simulated 3-km "prologue-like" TT. METHODS: Fourteen competitive male cyclists (23 [6] y; V˙O2peak=65[5] mL·kg-1·min-1) completed both conditions in a randomized crossover design. Each warm-up was followed, after a 2-minute transition, by a 3-km TT performed on an ergometer simulating variable terrain and rolling resistance. RESULTS: WUT elicited higher oxygen uptake (+10.7%, P = .001), greater V˙O2peak (+31.2%, P < .001), higher heart rate (+9.9%, P < .001), and higher perceived exertion (+32%, P = .043) than the classic warm-up, indicating greater physiological and perceptual strain. However, no significant differences (all P > .05) were found in TT completion time, mean or peak power output, cadence, or time above critical power between the 2 conditions. Muscle soreness was higher after WUT (P < .05), but this did not impair performance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that, while the WUT induces stronger physiological activation, it does not enhance short time-trial performance compared with a traditional approach. Both strategies appear equally effective in preparing cyclists for short, maximal efforts, suggesting that the choice of warm-up may depend on individual preference, event context, and practical constraints rather than expected performance gains.