High-Torque Interval Warm-Up Increases Internal Load Compared With a Classic Protocol but Does Not Affect Subsequent Time-Trial Performance

PURPOSE: Short cycling time trials (TTs), such as prologues, demand maximal power and precise neuromuscular coordination from the start, making warm‐up strategy crucial. This study compared the physiological, perceptual, and performance effects of a classic warm‐up and a high‐torque interval warm‐up (WUT) before a simulated 3‐km "prologue‐like" TT. METHODS: Fourteen competitive male cyclists (23 [6] y; V˙O2peak=65[5] mL·kg‐1·min‐1) completed both conditions in a randomized crossover design. Each warm‐up was followed, after a 2‐minute transition, by a 3‐km TT performed on an ergometer simulating variable terrain and rolling resistance. RESULTS: WUT elicited higher oxygen uptake (+10.7%, P = .001), greater V˙O2peak (+31.2%, P < .001), higher heart rate (+9.9%, P < .001), and higher perceived exertion (+32%, P = .043) than the classic warm‐up, indicating greater physiological and perceptual strain. However, no significant differences (all P > .05) were found in TT completion time, mean or peak power output, cadence, or time above critical power between the 2 conditions. Muscle soreness was higher after WUT (P < .05), but this did not impair performance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that, while the WUT induces stronger physiological activation, it does not enhance short time‐trial performance compared with a traditional approach. Both strategies appear equally effective in preparing cyclists for short, maximal efforts, suggesting that the choice of warm‐up may depend on individual preference, event context, and practical constraints rather than expected performance gains.