Gastin & Suppiah 2026, Anaerobic and aerobic energy system contribution during maximal exercise: systematic review

A systematic review of 102 studies with 311 data points found that the crossover point at which aerobic and anaerobic contributions are equal occurs at 78.6 s of maximal exercise (95% CI ±1.1 s); beyond that duration the aerobic system supplies progressively more energy. The review does not publish event-specific pooled percentages in its abstract; the frequently cited aerobic share of approximately 66% at 800 m and approximately 84% at 1500 m derives from the earlier Spencer & Gastin 2001 cohort study, which this review subsumes and is consistent with across three methodological approaches. Strong evidence.