I'm genuinely scared watching that.

---

Benjamin Deal - Professional - Instagram - TriRig - Lodi Cyclery
Deals on Wheels - Results, schedule, videos, sponsors

That puts him in rarefied air: https://www.topendsports.com/...g/records/vo2max.htm (though it looks like this list may be missing some people)

Scandinavian athletes seem predisposed to do very well on VO2 max testing

---

Matt

amaaaazing!!!

Probably just verifying the science behind his numbers.

---

https://www.strava.com/...tes/zachary_mckinney

Standing or out of the saddle values will always be higher. Some testers will not allow that as part of protocol.

Hard to see the seated value but likely high 80’s...still pretty awesome.

Maurice

I am sure endurance athletes from other countries are testing high 80s - low 90s.
The difference is that sharing training and test results is more common at least here in Norway.

I am sure most top ITU athletes are 85+ VO2 max.

Why is that, any idea?

I think that list is missing many ppl actually.

Researchers found that an epo doping regimen can lead to between a 7 and 9.7 percent increase in VO2 max. I would be very leery of any list that has athletes on it from the epo generation forward. This has no bearing on Blu, but VO2max numbers are rarely reported anymore by top endurance athletes, since they would be under great scrutiny.

whoaaaaaaaaa

---

https://www.strava.com/...tes/zachary_mckinney

If he was tested when 15 or 16 and was in the 85 or above range then a score over 90 could be doable, remembering Blumm was already training as a young teenager so would have had a pretty high vo2 and it wouldn't have increased crazy amounts from then until now.. vo2 doesn't do that unless it is helped along.

vo2 doesn't do that unless it is helped along. //

Correct me if I'm wrong, but all you have to do is lose weight at the same fitness, and your VO2 goes up, doesn't it?

Yes, but not crazy amounts. Blumm was probably more solid as a teenager, has leaned down a bit and would be training even heavier routine, so would have gone up. But generally you are either genetically blessed with a natural high vo2 or you aren't. No amount of training can get average to extraordinary.

It is nice that he is open with his numbers.

---

Let food be thy medicine...

Relative VO2max will change as it's a function of body mass - ml/kg/min. On the other hand absolute VO2max will not - L/min

---

Trust me I’m a doctor!
Well, I have a PhD :-)

I do not se why training or test numbers should be a secrete?
But what is common to share is dependent on what sports culture your in.

Here you have an 11 year old runner testing a 68 vo2 max. He has done ok.
https://www.ntnu.no/...8a-b192-2115b06385cc

I suppose the value on the left on the screen is the power he's riding at then? Seems strange that he maxes out at around 290W for that VO2max of +-90 so that must be something other than power?

With "classic" VO2 tests (for exemple 2mn steps, 30w increase), he will probably max around 550w or more.
His FTP is probably around 400w.
So, the 290w is not the max power reached in the test.

What is impressive, IMO, is to reach this VO2 figure with a training putting little emphasis on high intensity, and on VO2 direct develepement.
Indeed, from discussions with Arild Tveiten on this forum, their training include very little work above FTP.

We will see the results in Barhein !

And during the olympics !
I guess Arild will add during the last 3 month more work around and above FTP, and measured VO2 will be even higher...

I'd be surprised. A couple of guys I know that raced ITU were in the 70's. 85+ is rare rare rare.

For men over 80 is normal for endurance sports.
And for women, over 70.

Not sure how representative your sample is.

For junior xc-skiers, age 17 and older you would expect a vo2 max for boys at 70 and up, and for girls 60 and up. This is from The Norwegian Ski association coaching frame work. Xc-skiers are heavier than most endurance sports other than rowing so numbers for triathletes should be on the same level or higher.

The table says record measurements not vo2 of notable people ... 90 would be top 11 ever recorded... Pretty amazing

I read somewhere that reliable measurements is difficult but 10 percent above likes of froome does put you in rarified air

Froome was tested 85 off season, pointing to 88 at TdF weight, and possibly more : https://www.cyclingweekly.com/...-data-release-202644

Having investigated the VO2 evaluation methods, I did realize there is a lot of different methods (only looking at the "officially certified labs"), giving different results for the same guy at the same fitness level. So, 90 could easily be 88 somewhere else....

IMO :

above 90 : the best XC skier in the world (as apparently XC ski give higher results, probably using more muscles than bike)
around 90 : best bikers in the world, TDF winner potentially (if light and resisting 3 weeks), Hour Record or IP world champion (if heavier)
85 : excellent pro biker (regularly win in pro tour)
80 : very good pro biker (Wurf measured at that level, if not mistaken)
75 : top young AG, or old pros, or top junior going for pro career
70 : very good AG, very good junior

Blumenfelt is not going to win TdF, but he is Olympic / 70.3 WC / Kona winner stuff, for sure. Same for Iden (already spanked AB !)

You could be right there, also about other athletes flying under the radar

Curious what Blums lung capacity is and heart stroke volume... His chest looks relatively huge

In November 2015 tested Blummenfelt 86,9
https://nb-no.facebook.com/...ter/852791738173028/


That table is not updated and I am sure a lot of high tests are not there. Swedish xc-skiers will have the same test results as Norwegians since their training regime is the same.

I am more suprised that some thinks a VO2 max in the high 80s is high.
But I am not sure how much people are testing or how open they are about results.

Runner Ingrid Kristiansen had VO2 max of 81-82 in 1986.
https://www.ingridkristiansen.com/...1986-sesongen-del-1/

I have heard of other top ITU guys of the moment being well into the high 80's. Some countries and programmes use frequent vo2 testing while others rarely test. Think it was last year or maybe 2018 Blumm mentioned testing 86 on his social media.