INTRODUCTION: Although cross-country skiing necessitates well-developed aerobic endurance, neuromuscular power and anaerobic sprint capacity is of additional importance for competition success, particularly in sprint races and/or during the end-spurt of a race. As testosterone and cortisol concentrations have been reported toinfluence explosive strength, it has been proposed that menstrual-related fluctuations in these hormone levels may also affect power and sprint performance across the menstrual cycle. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of various hormones on doubling poling sprint and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance among female endurance athletes in the FENDURA project. METHODS: A group of naturally menstruating, moderate- to well-trained female endurance athletes (aged 18-45 years) participated in this study. Hormone concentrations (testosterone, 11-oxygenated androgens, cortisol, and cortisol metabolites) were collected with fasted morning venous blood samples in the early follicular, ovulatory, and mid luteal phases across one to two eumenorrheic menstrual cycles. Athletes completed 5 CMJ repetitions on a force plate to assess explosive power, and then a 30-second all-out double poling test on a Concept-2 ski ergometer. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models, with a random intercept for participant and nested for menstrual cycle phase. RESULTS: Double poling performance was significantly affected by testosterone and 11-ketoandrostenedione, with a 1-unit increase associated with an increase in peak ski power of 50 W and 90 W, respectively (p = .039 and p < .001). Higher concentrations of cortisol and its metabolites (11-dexycortisol, 21-deoxycortisol, corticosterone) were associated with impaired double poling sprint performance (p < .001 to p = .046). No significant associations were found between any hormone on CMJ height. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: These data highlight that the concentration of certain hormones during the menstrual cycle may be positively (testosterone) or negatively (cortisol and its metabolites) associated with double poling sprint performance in female endurance athletes. Future research should investigate if similar findings are also observed for female athletes who use hormonal contraceptives.
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