The aim of this longitudinal study was to analyze the changes in several metabolic and neuromuscular variables in response to endurance training during three defined periods of a full sports season (rest, precompetition and competition). The study population was formed by thirteen professional cyclists (age ± SEM: 24 ± 1 years; mean V(dot)o_{2 max} ~74 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹). In each testing session, subjects performed a ramp test until exhaustion on a cycle ergometer (workload increases of 25 W·min⁻¹). The following variables were recorded every 100 W until the tests: oxygen consumption (V˙_O2 in l·min⁻¹), respiratory exchange ratio (RER in V(dot)co₂·V˙_O2⁻¹) and blood lactate, pH and bicarbonate concentration [HCO₃⁻]. Surface electromyography (EMG) recordings were also obtained from the vastus lateralis to determine the variables: root mean square voltage (rms-EMG) and mean power frequency (MPF). RER and lactate values both showed a decrease (p < 0.05) throughout the season at exercise intensities corresponding to submaximal workloads. In contrast, no significant differences were found in mean pH or [HCO₃⁻]. Finally, rms-EMG tended to increase during the season, with significant differences (p < 0.05) observed mainly between the competition and rest periods at most workloads. In contrast, precompetition MPF values increased (p < 0.05) with respect to resting values at most submaximal workloads but fell (p < 0.05) during the competition period. Our findings suggest that endurance conditioning induces the following general adaptations in elite athletes: (1) lower circulating lactate and increased reliance on aerobic metabolism at a given submaximal intensity, and possibly (2) an enhanced recruitment of motor units in active muscles, as suggested by rms-EMG data.