77. THE % OF VO2MAX AT LACTATE THRESHOLD DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE THE PERFORMANCE LEVEL
A widespread belief is that higher level athletes have a second threshold/FTP at a higher percentage of the maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max).
Is it really true?
Having a second threshold/FTP at a higher percentage of VO2max is one of the factors that distinguish elite athletes from non-elite ones?
A hot off the press study published by Johansen and Colleagues (University of South-Eastern Norway) on International Journal of Sport Physiology and Performance in 2025 tried to answer this question.
WHAT DID THEY DO?
The lab metabolic incremental tests of 292 aerobic endurance athletes (212 Males and 80 females; 75 long-distance runners, 23 road cyclists, and 94 cross country skiers) were analysed. Athletes were divided into 3 different performance level groups:
Elite Athletes (N=71): who were competing at international level.
National Athletes: (N=158) who were competing at national level.
Regional Athletes: (N=63) who were competing in regional recreational competitions.
The VO2max and the % of VO2max at which second lactate threshold occurred were compared across the 3 different performance level groups.
WHAT DID THEY FIND?
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