THERE WILL BE BLOOD
“Lance, all you need is red blood cells.” In ESPN’s recent 30 for 30 documentary, Lance Armstrong recalled this snippet of conversation with his doctor Michele Ferrari. While the notorious doper was eager to find yet another way to leapfrog his competitors, his Italian physiologist was insistent that red blood cell (RBC) levels remained the most effective way to boost performance. CW is ardently opposed to all foul play, but the fundamental importance of blood highlighted by this form of physiological manipulation raises a fascinating question: Are RBCs the most important component in endurance performance? And if so, what do we need to do to make sure our blood is in the best possible (legal) health to support our riding?
Why blood matters
RBCs are blood cells that carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. They contain a protein called haemoglobin (Hb), which binds to oxygen (O2) and delivers it to tissues. At sea level, one molecule of haemoglobin can bind to four molecules of O2 – and this isn’t RBCs’ only function.
“When you’re dehydrated, the risks of exhaustion, collapse or overheating increase”
“As well as O2 transport, RBCs fulfil a variety of other functions, all of which may improve endurance performance,” says Austrian exercise physiologist Peter Leo.
One of these other functions is helping to regulate blood pH. RBCs transport carbon dioxide (CO2) to the lungs for exhalation and bind hydrogen ions (H+) to haemoglobin; they also
