What the study found
Caffeinated coffee reduced average time on the tested cross-country course by about 5%, with substantial individual variation. Heart rate increased while perceived exertion was similar.
Participants and protocol
Eleven recreational cyclists completed caffeine and decaffeinated-coffee trials on a 13.9-kilometre course in a single-blind crossover study.
What this cannot establish
A small trial on one course does not establish a reliable personal time saving. Coffee caffeine content, tolerance, sleep effects and technical riding demands limit direct application.
Publication details
- Record
- PubMed 38474796
- Publication types
- research-article · Randomized Controlled Trial
- Indexed subjects
- Caffeine · Cross-Over Studies · Coffee · Athletic Performance · Performance-Enhancing Substances
- Source record checked
- 2026-10-18
Publication type and subject indexing describe the record; they are not a quality grade or proof of a benefit. An abstract does not replace a review of the full methods and results.
Adaptive AI coach for iPhone
Meet your adaptive AI coach.
Tell your coach what you are training for. It builds the plan, follows the work you complete, and adapts upcoming training when recovery, your schedule, or real life changes.
Keep going
Performance Science Lab
Research summaries for endurance athletes, with study context, practical protocols, and clear limitations.
Open guideSupplements performance research
Supplements are optional. Only a few reliably move the needle, and context matters.
Open guideTime-trial performance research for endurance athletes
Practical performance outcome used in many studies: closer to racing than lab-only metrics.
Open guide