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The arterial pulse wave velocity is determined to a large extent by the arterial elastic modulus. We tried to assess the importance of this parameter in cardio-vascular adaptation to exercise by measuring pulse wave velocity (c) in 45 sedentary subjects and 28 competitive cyclists whose ages ranged from 14 to 47 years. The measurements were performed at rest and during the recovery phase after ergometric exercise. At constant diastolic pressure, a positive linear relationship was demonstrated between c and age in both the sedentary and trained subjects. The slope of this relation was significantly different in the two groups. During the recovery phase, at constant diastolic pressure, a linear relationship was also established between c and the relative increase in systolic pressure in the sedentary group classified into six age subgroups. The slope of this relation increased with age. The part taken by diastolic flow velocity during exercise in the increase in c was demonstrated in 8 subjects by simultaneous Doppler ultrasonic recording of contra-lateral femoral arterial velocity. Nevertheless diastolic flow in exercise could not explain entirely the observed increase in c. An increase in arterial elasticity modulus during exercise should be postulated in order to explain the concomitant increase in arterial pulse wave velocity.