ABSTRACT
Dietary nitrate is an ergogenic aid that can enhance performance during short duration cycling protocols such as time trials, time-to-exhaustion tasks, and sprints, although it is unclear whether nitrate supplementation can improve performance for long duration cycling. The performance enhancing effects following nitrate supplementation have been attributed to elevated nitric oxide bioavailability, which has been associated with improved calcium handling, a lower energetic cost of contraction, attenuated accumulation of fatigue-associated metabolites, and more pronounced beneficial effects on type II muscle fibres. This chapter discusses the relevant literature to assess whether dietary nitrate is ergogenic for cycling performance and offers practical recommendations for optimal ingestion strategies.
