EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT... NEUROMUSCULAR FATIGUE

Beyond running low on fuel, cyclists face a subtler drag on performance - neuromuscular fatigue. Rob Kemp explores what it is and why it matters

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Most cyclists think of fatigue as burning lungs or leaden legs - the obvious signs that you're running out of steam.

But there’s another, less obvious kind that can wreck your performance long before you hit the wall: neuromuscular fatigue. This is when the communication between your brain, nerves and muscles falters, reducing your ability to generate power. The result? Lost efficiency, dulled performance, and efforts that never quite meet your potential. Here’s why it matters - and how the right training and recovery can help you outsmart it.

What is neuromuscular fatigue?

Unlike metabolic fatigue, which comes from depleted fuel stores or rising metabolite levels, neuromuscular fatigue is about signal failure: the brain can’t drive the muscles as effectively, or the muscles can’t respond properly.

“Neuromuscular fatigue can be defined as an exercise-induced decrease in a muscle’s ability to generate power on the bike,” says coach Dean Sutton. “The reduction in power can stem from either the central nervous system [brain and spinal cord] or the peripheral nervous system, leading to reduced performance.”

In simple terms, it’s your body’s wiring short-circuiting under strain. The brain may struggle to send strong enough signals to the muscles (central fatigue), or the muscles themselves may fail to respond efficiently (peripheral fatigue). Neuromuscular fatigue often shows up as a persistent loss of power or reduced cadence despite adequate fuelling and recovery. Unlike short-term heaviness in the legs or breathlessness, neuromuscular fatigue can linger into subsequent sessions and may affect both sprint sharpness and sustained efforts.

Why does it matter?