Comments on: Le Tour: using Pantani and VO2 max / power output to speculate if Contador is clean http://scienceblog.ie/wordpress/index.php/le-tour-using-pantani-and-vo2-max-power-output-to-speculate-if-contador-is-clean/ Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:01:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: admin http://scienceblog.ie/wordpress/index.php/le-tour-using-pantani-and-vo2-max-power-output-to-speculate-if-contador-is-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-382 admin Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:22:53 +0000 http://scienceblog.ie/wordpress/?p=358#comment-382 Hi CycleFan, Thanks for your comment. Thank you for the link, I was not aware of it until now. We are an opinion-based blog and although not proven conclusively (and may never be), I think the majority of cycling fans I'm aware of will tell you that they are suspicious of his achievements. Brian (brian.c@lifescience.ie) Hi CycleFan,

Thanks for your comment. Thank you for the link, I was not aware of it until now. We are an opinion-based blog and although not proven conclusively (and may never be), I think the majority of cycling fans I’m aware of will tell you that they are suspicious of his achievements.

Brian (brian.c@lifescience.ie)

]]> By: Grog http://scienceblog.ie/wordpress/index.php/le-tour-using-pantani-and-vo2-max-power-output-to-speculate-if-contador-is-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-342 Grog Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:55:07 +0000 http://scienceblog.ie/wordpress/?p=358#comment-342 Most of these calculations require assumptions about variables. Further, it is an athlete's capacity to sustain effort that counts. This is the percentage of the V02 max which they can hold for an endurance effort. That said, if one compares riders of similar mass, height, build and presumably preparation, it becomes apparent that there are those capable of amazing bursts of sustained effort, rapid recovery and repeat the next day and those that have markedly less power in their top efforts, cycle consistently and tire predictably. It seems obvious that the former are boosting their rbc count and the latter are not. And I would suggest that most of the recent past winners of the big tours are from the former group. History and this bit of basic bio-energetics observation are in agreement. Most of these calculations require assumptions about variables. Further, it is an athlete’s capacity to sustain effort that counts. This is the percentage of the V02 max which they can hold for an endurance effort. That said, if one compares riders of similar mass, height, build and presumably preparation, it becomes apparent that there are those capable of amazing bursts of sustained effort, rapid recovery and repeat the next day and those that have markedly less power in their top efforts, cycle consistently and tire predictably. It seems obvious that the former are boosting their rbc count and the latter are not. And I would suggest that most of the recent past winners of the big tours are from the former group. History and this bit of basic bio-energetics observation are in agreement.

]]> By: CycleFan http://scienceblog.ie/wordpress/index.php/le-tour-using-pantani-and-vo2-max-power-output-to-speculate-if-contador-is-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-262 CycleFan Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:40:34 +0000 http://scienceblog.ie/wordpress/?p=358#comment-262 Great to see some Irish people promoting the sport. However to gain any credibility its probably best if articles promoting the dark side of cycling, (especially on a science blog) are researched properly, nothing worse than making statements based on inaccurate information. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contadors-climbing-credibility-questioned Great to see some Irish people promoting the sport. However to gain any credibility its probably best if articles promoting the dark side of cycling, (especially on a science blog) are researched properly, nothing worse than making statements based on inaccurate information.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contadors-climbing-credibility-questioned

]]> By: Stano http://scienceblog.ie/wordpress/index.php/le-tour-using-pantani-and-vo2-max-power-output-to-speculate-if-contador-is-clean/comment-page-1/#comment-250 Stano Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:16:56 +0000 http://scienceblog.ie/wordpress/?p=358#comment-250 Using the 'facts' presented by Lemond and repeated here I disagree that Contador has about 99 VO2max and that he might/must be drugged. He beat Armstrong on that climb by about 1m 30s. He achieved this difference over about 20min of riding. Let's say the estimate of 99.5 VO2max is correct and that Armstrong was this year at 85 again. That means almost 15% difference in VO2max. The thing is tough, that such a big difference wasn't translated into the time gap. 15% over a 20min ride means 3min but the difference was only 1m 30sec. So according to my logic Contador was only 7.5% better. Therefore, if Armstrong was at 85 Contador might have been at around 92 VO2max, and that is a way more possible number. If fact I doubt Lance was at 85, he was maybe only 83, the Alberto needed only about 89 VO2max to win the Tour, and not 99.5. Using the ‘facts’ presented by Lemond and repeated here I disagree that Contador has about 99 VO2max and that he might/must be drugged.

He beat Armstrong on that climb by about 1m 30s. He achieved this difference over about 20min of riding.

Let’s say the estimate of 99.5 VO2max is correct and that Armstrong was this year at 85 again. That means almost 15% difference in VO2max.

The thing is tough, that such a big difference wasn’t translated into the time gap. 15% over a 20min ride means 3min but the difference was only 1m 30sec.

So according to my logic Contador was only 7.5% better. Therefore, if Armstrong was at 85 Contador might have been at around 92 VO2max, and that is a way more possible number.

If fact I doubt Lance was at 85, he was maybe only 83, the Alberto needed only about 89 VO2max to win the Tour, and not 99.5.

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