Stress appraisals influence athletic performance and psychophysiological response during 16.1 km cycling time trials

•A path analysis revealed an association between appraisal and performance.•Temporal orientation of stress appraisals significantly effects cycling performance.•The fear of losing induces a greater cortisol spike than the actual event of losing.•Challenge and benefit appraisals may induce physiological “success stress”.•No significant psychophysiological or performance differences found between genders.