Reading back through all of this...

5 weeks just isn't enough time for the weight lifting group.

No doubt, sprint workouts on the bike will raise VO2 and sprint power... but...

As an ex long time gym rat/power lifter - weight lifting gains take time. The first few weeks is essentially trauma to the body and any "gains" in strength probably come from improved form or confidence. You are tearing everything down at first, straining everything. Nothing is used to or ready for the load, recovery sucks - you can be sore for the better part of a week after your first sessions. I would think this could actually translate to initial losses on the bike.

Personally speaking, if my back allowed me to lift heavy again - I have no doubts that I could power lift my way into having a 2000w sprint. 6 months or so is what it would actually take, and I wouldn't expect to see gains on the bike in the first 2+/- months as my system will be in shock.

Would lifting help my VO2 max? Probably not very much. Would it help my 1 hour power - probably, as my legs give out before anything else. Would I be able to sprint like a madman - hell yeah. And I would probably weigh well over 210#'s - I can put muscle on in a hurry.