VA-VA-VO2 MAX
One of the riders I coach, Rebecca, messaged me recently after getting home from an endurance ride. She wanted to discuss which higher-intensity workouts would be best for getting her ready for the race season.
“I’ve read that a rider’s VO2 max is hereditary and that you don’t really need to specifically train it,” said Rebecca. “Apparently you can do all the hard efforts you need in races and group rides.”
In fact, Rebecca was full of questions on VO2 max training: the importance of being able to repeat the efforts; how much top-end training is needed in the lead-up to a race; as well as the volume and frequency of this maximal type of work. It got me thinking: this is an area of training that really can make or break a rider’s season, and they need to get it right – Rebecca’s queries had inspired me to revisit the subject and to provide a thorough guide.
VO2 max made simple
VO2 max, also known as maximal oxygen uptake, is the measurement of a person’s maximum rate of oxygen consumption during
