Sodium bicarbonate ingestion does not alter the slow component of oxygen uptake kinetics in professional cyclists

We examined the effects of pre-exercise sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) ingestion on the slow component of oxygen uptake (V· iO2) kinetics in seven professional road cyclists during intense exercise. One hour after ingesting either a placebo or NaHCO3 (0.3 g·kg body mass-1), each cyclist (age, 25±2 years; V·iO2max, 74.7±5.9 ml·kg-1·min-1; mean±s) performed two bouts of 6 min duration at an intensity of 90% V·iO2max interspersed by 8 min of active recovery. Gas exchange and blood data (pH, blood lactate concentration and [HCO