How do I stack up (Vo2Max)?

Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast
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Hello,

I recently performed a (12h fasted) Vo2max test at the University of Gent. It turned out to be 72 ml/min/kg. I realise this is very good, but I would like to know how I compare to professional athletes. According to Kaminsky et al. (2022), I am in the 90th percentile. But there is very little data about the worlds’ best. Could you discuss this and give advice on how I should use my potential?

More information about me:
Age: 22y
Training experience: 3.5y
Gender: Male
Length: 180 cm
Weight: 65 kg
Bodyfat: 7%
Current weekly volume: ∼ 15h
eFTP (intervals.icu): 335w
Country: Belgium

I mainly train on vibes, but I have a broad structure. This means that I go hard every now and then, but my training is mainly based on how I feel that day.

Greetings,
Lukas H

P.S.:

  1. Sorry for my broken English
  2. I love the Podcast & forum
  3. I must admid that I don’t use trainnerroad

Kaminsky, Leonard A.; Arena, Ross; Myers, Jonathan; Peterman, James E.; Bonikowske, Amanda R.; Harber, Matthew P.; Medina Inojosa, Jose R.; Lavie, Carl J.; Squires, Ray W. (2022). “Updated Reference Standards for Cardiorespiratory Fitness Measured with Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing”. Mayo Clinic Proceedings . 97 (2): 285–293. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.08.020

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A fair bit down on this page is a table with some well known cyclists’ VO2max.

Edit: Added link to
https://csiontario.ca/resource/vo2-max-and-cyclists-important-or-irrelevant/

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Found a table of a few more athletes, not just cyclists: World Best VO2max Scores

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When you say “how I should use my potential?” do you have becoming a professional athlete in mind?

If so, my first suggestion would be to find a club / team with members that have similar ambition and join it. Learn from and train with that club / team and enter some races. Win them.

The next stage will present itself soon enough from there.

Training wise, you will likely benefit from changing “going hard every now and then” to a properly structured use of your available hours. TR can help there of course.

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