Exhaustive endurance exercise such as cycling has been shown to decrease testosterone levels for up to 72 hours after exercise [1]. Cortisol (a glucocorticoid hormone) increases during endurance exercise, while testosterone (an anabolic-androgenic steroid hormone) decreases and this may attenuate muscle-building after an exhaustive endurance session[1].
Other research has suggested a link between endurance-trained athletes and low resting testosterone levels [2].
[1] Anderson, T., Lane, A. R., & Hackney, A. C. (2016). Cortisol and testosterone dynamics following exhaustive endurance exercise. European journal of applied physiology, 116(8), 1503–1509. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3406-y
[2] Daly, W., Seegers, C. A., Rubin, D. A., Dobridge, J. D., & Hackney, A. C. (2004). Relationship between stress hormones and testosterone with prolonged endurance exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 93(4), 375–380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1223-1
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