On arrival at the testing facility, with the exception of the familiarisation trial, resting blood samples (~ 5 ml) were drawn from a branch of the basilic vein and collected in plain siliconised tubes. In trials 3 and 4, subjects were subsequently administered a gelatine capsule containing either 5 mgkg1 of caffeine (Sigma-Aldrich, Steinheim, Germany) or the same volume (4 mgkg1) and colour of placebo (maltodextrin: Starmax Nutrition, Hereford, UK) one hour prior to testing. After supplementation, subjects rested for 45 minutes before a second blood sample was drawn.