I guess the right protocol for testing this would be having two group of runners (or cyclist) and asking one group to train aerobically for some time, the second group should train with the same volume, but maybe do one more short session of anaerobic effort. After the period of test they should be tested again to see which group has improved more.
Has there been a research like this?

PS. I am glad I dont studing exercise physiology, all the researches sound the same to me!!

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"Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative." Oscar Wilde