The maximal lactate accumulation rate (vLamax) offers an understanding of the athlete`s maximum glycolytic power. The traditional vLamax determination requires multiple post-exercise lactate measurements, which are time-consuming and resource-intensive. Therefore, this study aimed to compare two simplified methods: a polynomial modelling approach (vLamax_Poly) and a single post-exercise lactate measurement at 5 minutes (vLamax_5min). Additionally, differences in vLamax between rowing and cycling, as well as sex-based variations, were examined. A total of 152 trained athletes performed maximal sprints on a rowing ergometer (20s) or a cycle ergometer (15s). Blood lactate was sampled at rest and every minute for 10 minutes post-exercise. Both alternative methods showed excellent agreement with the traditional approach (r = 0.99). While no bias was observed for vLamax_Poly, the vLamax_5min method exhibited a slight systematic underestimation (p < 0.001; MD: -0.019 ± 0.021 mmol/l/s). However, its narrower limits of agreement indicate slightly higher precision compared to vLamax_Poly. Rowers showed lower vLamax and peak lactate values than cyclists. Male participants exhibited higher vLamax, sprint power, and peak lactate than females. Overall, the findings suggest that vLamax_Poly and vLamax_5min provide valid and practical alternatives to traditional methods, facilitating wider application in research and field settings.
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