Paul, D. R., Mulroy, S. M., Horner, J. A., & Jacobs, K. A. (1999). Carbohydrate-loading diets in women cyclists. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 31(5), Supplement abstract 880.

In well-trained women cyclists (N = 6), the effects of CHO diets and habitual diets on muscle glycogen and cycling performance were compared. After familiarization, Ss completed 6 x 15-minutes of cycling followed by a time-trial 15 minutes later. The two diets were adhered to for 3.5 days before each test trial.

Muscle glycogen stores increased after the CHO-loading diet, even when the habitual diet contained relatively large concentrations of CHO. There was no differential effect between the diets on performance.

Implication. CHO-loading did not affect cycling performance in women.

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