1 Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores

There is a controversy in the published scientific data whether extended training at altitude increases performance at sea level. The effect of hypoxia at rest and on the response to interval moderate exercise was determined in six healthy male individuals during an incremental 3 × 5 min exercise cycle test (5 min recovery) at sea level and in a hypobaric chamber (10000 feet/3100 m altitude). Ventilation rate (VE), breathing frequency (BF), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (Q), blood lac-tate (Labl) and % of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) were measured. Blood samples were drawn at rest and at the end of each exercise bout. Hypoxia led to a significant increase i