A recent double blind placebo controlled study looking at cycling performance lasting  eight weeks has been completed. Well trained cyclists took 2-4g of beta-alanine a day and completed two tests, that would mimic a race and the final sprint phase.  The results of this study showed, beta-alanine significantly improved sprint performance at the end of endurance exercise session. This study very closely mimics what a competitive cyclists would undergo during training or competition. Beta-alanine’s versatility continues to be uncovered, so far showing it can increase anaerobic strength, powder, delay muscular fatigue and increase lean body mass.



1: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009 Apr;41(4):898-903.Click here to read Links
Beta-alanine improves sprint performance in endurance cycling.
Van Thienen R, Van Proeyen K, Vanden Eynde B, Puype J, Lefere T, Hespel P.

Department of Biomedical Kinesiology, Research Centre for Exercise and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

PURPOSE: Recent research has shown that chronic dietary beta-alanine (betaALA) supplementation increases muscle carnosine content, which is associated with better performance in short (1-2 min) maximal exercise. Success in endurance competitions often depends on a final sprint. However, whether betaALA can be ergogenic in sprint performance at the end of an endurance competition is at present unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of 8-wk betaALA administration in moderately to well-trained cyclists on sprint performance at the end of a simulated endurance cycling race. METHODS: A double-blind study was performed, which consisted of two experimental test sessions interspersed by an 8-wk betaALA (2-4 g.d; n = 9) or matched placebo (PL; n = 8) supplementation period. In the pretesting and the posttesting, subjects performed a 10-min time trial and a 30-s isokinetic sprint (100 rpm) after a 110-min simulated cycling race. Capillary blood samples were collected for determination of blood lactate concentration and pH. RESULTS: Mean power output during the time trial was approximately 300 W and was similar between PL and betaALA during either the pretesting or the posttesting. However, compared with PL, during the final sprint after the time trial, betaALA on average increased peak power output by 11.4% (95% confidence interval = +7.8 to +14.9%, P = 0.0001), whereas mean power output increased by 5.0% (95% confidence interval = +2.0 to +8.1%, P = 0.005). Blood lactate and pH values were similar between groups at any time. CONCLUSION: Oral betaALA supplementation can significantly enhance sprint performance at the end of an exhaustive endurance exercise bout.