In Reply To:
Ummm...I'd be careful with drawing any conclusions based on that "analysis" or that chart.
The power values "estimated" that form the basis of that analysis (by a Mr. Vayer) haven't been shown to be exactly...ummm, reliable. Not to mention the assumptions made by Vayer, and also Mr. LeMond, about the correlation between VO2max and FTP. Just ask Mr. Chung ;-)
Ferrari's been estimating VAM and he's seen the power data of many of his riders from their top performances over the years- so I would trust his data (which is very close to Mr. Vayer's data). I think Ferrari know's Lance's data better than anyone here ;) But you can feel free to armchair it otherwise ;)
http://www.53x12.com/...epth.view&id=104 Performances at the Tour 2009 By: Michele Ferrari
Published: 19 Jul 2009
On the ascent to Verbier (638m of difference in height at 7.5%) Alberto Contador (62kg) climbed at 1852 m/h, equal to 6.73 w/kg, developing an average of 417w.
Lance Armstrong (72 kg) climbed at 1720 m/h, equal to 6.25 w/kg, developing 450w.
The difference between their VAM's is 7.4% in favor of Alberto, while Lance, whose body weight is 16% heavier, pushed 8% more watts: a suggestion that in the upcoming time trial in Annecy it could be a very close and uncertain duel.
In Arcalis (751m of ascent at 7.1%) Contador climbed at 1671 m/h, equal to 6.18 w/kg, with Armstrong and all the other best riders at 1649 m/h (6.10 w/kg); but in the last couple of km Alberto had already showed a power that was 7.2% superior to his rivals'.