Lactate Thresholds and Performance in Young Cross-Country Skiers Before and After the Competitive Season: Insights from Laboratory Roller-Ski Tests in Normoxic and Hypoxic Conditions

Cross-country (XC) skiing imposes high physiological demands under hypoxic conditions at altitude. Lactate thresholds such as Onset Blood Lactate Accumulation at 4 mmol/L (OBLA4) and lactate plus 1 mmol/L above baseline (Bsln+1.0) are crucial for tracking performance. This study investigates physiological responses in junior XC skiers under normoxic and hypoxic conditions before (PreCs) and after (PosCs) the competitive season. Nine national-level XC skiers performed a Graded Exercise Test (GXT) on a treadmill using roller skis under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions in PreCS and PosCS. Heart rate, slope (treadmill inclination), and lactate thresholds (Bsln+1.0 and OBLA4) were measured. Significant differences were found between PreCs and PosCs under hypoxia for maximum heart rate (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Estimated slopes at Bsln+1.0 and OBLA4 were lower under hypoxia compared to normoxia in PreCs (<i>p</i> = 0.005, d = -1.29 for Bsln+1.0 and <i>p</i> = 0.013, d = -1.06 for OBLA4). In PosCs, a lower impairment effect of hypoxia exposure under slope at OBLA4 was found (<i>p</i> = 0.02, d = -0.95). Positive correlations were found between heart rate and slope for Bsln+1.0 and OBLA4 in PreCs under normoxia and hypoxia, becoming stronger at PosCs, especially under hypoxia. Delta values showed that the higher the slope at Bsln+1.0 and OBLA 4 under normoxia was, the greater the decrease between normoxia and hypoxia was. Physiological changes in junior XC skiers after training and competition in normoxic and hypoxic conditions highlight the importance of hypoxic environments for assessing and monitoring performance throughout the season.