Pallarés, Jesús G.Barranco Gil, DavidRodríguez Rielves, VíctorPablos, Raúl deBuendía Romero, ÁngelMartínez Cava, AlejandroSánchez Redondo, IvánRevuelta Parra, CarlosHernández Belmonte, AlejandroBrea Alejo, LidiaEt al.2025-08-042025-08-042025Pallares, J. G., Barranco-Gil, D., Rodríguez-Rielves, V., De Pablos, R., Buendía-Romero, Á., Martínez-Cava, A., Franco-López, F., Sánchez-Redondo, I. R., Iriberri, J., Revuelta, C., Lillo-Bevia, J. R., Valenzuela, P., Lucia, A., Hernández-Belmonte, A., & Alejo, L. (2025). 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. Biology of Sport, 42(3), 185-195. https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2025.1467900860-021X2083-1862https://hdl.handle.net/11268/16073This randomized controlled trial compared the effectiveness of high-intensity off- and on-bike resistance training (RT) in well-trained cyclists. Thirty-seven cyclists incorporated into their cycling routine a 10-week RT only differing in the exercise used: full squat (off-bike RT, n = 12) or high-intensity all-out pedaling efforts (on-bike RT, n = 12). RT variables like intensity (% maximal dynamic force, MDF), volume, sets, and rest were identical between groups. A third group of cyclists who continued their cycling routine but did not include additional RT stimuli was used as a control (n = 13). The cycling volume at each intensity zone was also matched between the three groups. No significant differences were found between off- and on-bike RT in any parameter. RT groups improved the maximal aerobic power (ES ≥ 0.37) and that attained at the respiratory compensation point (RCP, ES ≥ 0.20). The on-bike RT also significantly enhanced power attained at the ventilatory threshold (ES = 0.24). Off-bike MDF was meaningfully enhanced by both RT groups (ES ≥ 0.16), whereas the on-bike group also significantly increased pedaling MDF (ES = 0.67). Quadriceps size was significantly increased by the off-bike group (ES = 0.22), whereas the on-bike RT also tended to augment this parameter (ES = 0.15) and patellar tendon size (ES = 0.35). Improvements in both RT regimes for time-to-exhaustion capacity (ES ≥ 0.30) were considerable but not significant. The off-bike group tended to increase injury-related symptoms (ES ≥ 0.33). The control group significantly decreased off-and on-bike MDF (ES ≤ -0.40) and quadriceps size (ES = -0.26). These findings suggest that high-intensity on-bike RT is an effective alternative to off-bike RT to safely increase strength, muscle-tendon structure, and cycling performance.engAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/journal article10.5114/biolsport.2025.146790open accessDeporteFisiología humanaEducación físicaGoal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages