Martin, D. T., Kinsman, T., Eastwood, A., Platt, M., Paton, C., & Hahn, A. G. (2005). Altitude tents do not impair performance response to short-term high-intensity cycling training. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37(5), Supplement abstract 1548.

Competitive male cyclists (N = 7) completed seven days of high-intensity interval training at ~600 m while sleeping each night in an altitude tent at seal level or altitude simulations. Two 90-minute training sessions of 66 maximal efforts of 5-15 seconds duration with competition specific work:relief ratios (1:1, 1:3, 1:6) were performed twice per day.

Before interval training, peak power in a graded exercise test was lower following sea-level simulation and unchanged in altitude simulation. After interval training, peak power was greater in the graded exercise test after altitude simulation when compared to sea-level simulation. Interval training did not change VO2peak, peak lactate, peak heart rate for either simulated condition.

Implication. Sleeping in an altitude tent during a week of high-intensity training will not impair high-intensity cycling performance.

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