Regarding cycling performance, three important concepts often discussed are VO2 max, critical power (CP), and W prime (W'). Although each of these concepts is distinct, they are related and understanding their relationships can help athletes better understand their physiology and improve their performance.
VO2max is the maximum amount of oxygen that a person can use during exercise. The higher an athlete’s VO2max, the more efficiently they can transport and use oxygen, and generally, the better their endurance performance. VO2max is determined by a variety of factors, including the size of the heart and lungs, the amount of haemoglobin in the blood, and the amount of mitochondria in the muscles.
Critical power (CP), also known as the power associated with the lactate threshold, represents the highest power output that an athlete can sustain for a prolonged period of time without fatiguing. This value is often used to help athletes plan their training and pacing strategies for endurance events. The oxidative capacity of the muscles determines CP, the efficiency of energy production, and the rate at which lactate accumulates in the blood.
W prime (W') is a measure of an athlete’s anaerobic capacity. It represents the amount of work an athlete can perform above their critical power. In other words, it is the “reserve” energy system that an athlete can tap into when they need an extra burst of energy during high-intensity exercise. However, W' is limited, and once it is depleted, an athlete will experience a rapid decline in performance.
CP and W' are often discussed in relation to one another. Research has shown that CP and W' are inversely related; that is, as an athlete’s CP increases, their W' decreases, and vice versa. This relationship highlights the trade-off athletes face between sustained, high-intensity and short, maximal efforts.
In terms of physiology, CP and W' sit within the context of VO2max. Although VO2max is an important predictor of endurance performance, it is not the only factor determining an athlete’s ability to sustain a given intensity. CP and W' are also crucial components that affect an athlete’s performance. For example, an athlete with a higher VO2max but a lower CP may not be able to sustain a high power output for a prolonged period, while an athlete with a lower VO2max but a higher CP may be able to sustain a high power output for longer.
Understanding the relationships between VO2max, critical power, and W' can help athletes optimise their training and performance.
Take our critical power test below to understand more about the balance between these two systems. If you are stuck or need help understanding the data, and how your physiology needs to be shifted. Contact us, and we would be happy to offer you free guidance.
VO2max is the maximum amount of oxygen that a person can use during exercise. The higher an athlete’s VO2max, the more efficiently they can transport and use oxygen, and generally, the better their endurance performance. VO2max is determined by a variety of factors, including the size of the heart and lungs, the amount of haemoglobin in the blood, and the amount of mitochondria in the muscles.
Critical power (CP), also known as the power associated with the lactate threshold, represents the highest power output that an athlete can sustain for a prolonged period of time without fatiguing. This value is often used to help athletes plan their training and pacing strategies for endurance events. The oxidative capacity of the muscles determines CP, the efficiency of energy production, and the rate at which lactate accumulates in the blood.
W prime (W') is a measure of an athlete’s anaerobic capacity. It represents the amount of work an athlete can perform above their critical power. In other words, it is the “reserve” energy system that an athlete can tap into when they need an extra burst of energy during high-intensity exercise. However, W' is limited, and once it is depleted, an athlete will experience a rapid decline in performance.
CP and W' are often discussed in relation to one another. Research has shown that CP and W' are inversely related; that is, as an athlete’s CP increases, their W' decreases, and vice versa. This relationship highlights the trade-off athletes face between sustained, high-intensity and short, maximal efforts.
In terms of physiology, CP and W' sit within the context of VO2max. Although VO2max is an important predictor of endurance performance, it is not the only factor determining an athlete’s ability to sustain a given intensity. CP and W' are also crucial components that affect an athlete’s performance. For example, an athlete with a higher VO2max but a lower CP may not be able to sustain a high power output for a prolonged period, while an athlete with a lower VO2max but a higher CP may be able to sustain a high power output for longer.
Understanding the relationships between VO2max, critical power, and W' can help athletes optimise their training and performance.
Take our critical power test below to understand more about the balance between these two systems. If you are stuck or need help understanding the data, and how your physiology needs to be shifted. Contact us, and we would be happy to offer you free guidance.
Are you interested in having North's team take charge of your training regime, ensuring that your aerobic and anaerobic systems are perfectly balanced to help you achieve peak performance for your upcoming event? Our coaching package details are provided below, and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via the form on our website's contact page.
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Training history and performance review. ERG Mode workouts and Zwift compatible workouts. Weekly individual training plan delivered via Training Peaks. Weekly voice feedback overview. Weekly communication. Training peaks account. |
£140 Per Month
Free initial phone consultation.
Training history and performance review. ERG Mode workouts and Zwift compatible workouts. Weekly individual training plan delivered via Training Peaks. Weekly in-depth feedback via Training Peaks. Unlimited communication. Unlimited plan edits. Training peaks account. |
£180 Per Month
Free initial phone consultation.
WK05 training history and performance analysis review report. ERG Mode workouts and Zwift compatible workouts. Weekly individual training plan delivered via Training Peaks. Daily in-depth feedback analysed through WK05 and delivered in Training Peaks. In-depth quarterly performance assessment report. Unlimited communication. Unlimited plan edits. Premium Training Peaks account. Daily training feedback and analysis notifications delivered direct to your email. |
