Wasn´t Olano´s amazin considering his ridiculously low VO2Max?

[André B]

Wasn´t Olano´s amazin considering his ridiculously low VO2Max?

Re: Olano´s career.
Belonging to the minority of old Olano fans I just have to ask you.
Olano had a Vo2Max below 70. With that in mind his palmares is quite amazing. He showed that you can be a champion despite having limited (relatively speaking, that is) physical capabilties. No wonder he lost GT GCs in the high mountains. What I don´t understand is how he could time trial so well with that VO2Max. Can anyone explain this to me?
Your thoughts?

 

[Willy_Voet]

Can only explain if we take this to that other subforum...

 

[riobonito92]

Olano winning the World's with a flat tyre on probably the toughest World Championship course ever (Colombia), against Pantani and Virenque in their prime demonstrates that he was a special rider.

 

[Steel4Ever]

Pantani and Virenque in their prime

Tee hee! In their "prime"! Ha!

Right...this does belong in that other forum section.

 

[Ripper]

Actually, I have a very high opinion of Olano. He did amazing stuff, especially when you consider his physiology. And while some more detail could be discussed in the 'other' forum, he was hardly the only one using alternative means of enhancing his performance.

I believe Olano's efficiency numbers were quite high compared to some cyclists - I think Pez referenced the study (I am far too lazy right now to look it up). He certainly was fun to watch! He also was pretty strong mentally ... many riders would have packed it in with the flat.

 

[hmronnow]

Actually, I have a very high opinion of Olano. He did amazing stuff, especially when you consider his physiology. And while some more detail could be discussed in the 'other' forum, he was hardly the only one using alternative means of enhancing his performance.

I believe Olano's efficiency numbers were quite high compared to some cyclists - I think Pez referenced the study (I am far too lazy right now to look it up). He certainly was fun to watch! He also was pretty strong mentally ... many riders would have packed it in with the flat.

Not taking away from Olano. But when he had that flat, Indurain was sitting very strong in the chase group. Several tried to pull free, at which point Indurain 'strolled' up along side them, looking at them saying: If you ride up to Olano, I will take the victory.

 

[Ripper]

Not taking away from Olano. But when he had that flat, Indurain was sitting very strong in the chase group. Several tried to pull free, at which point Indurain 'strolled' up along side them, looking at them saying: If you ride up to Olano, I will take the victory.

Yup, they played a pretty good team strategy that day as well.

 

[icefire]

Where does the figure of VO2max = 70 comes from?

 

[André B]

The figure is from a test conducted in 2002, just after Olano retired. I read about it in an article (I can´t recall which article or the title but it´s out there - google Olano+vo2max) and some cycling forums. It is said he never went above 70. He must have been super efficient or very very good at suffering. Mentally great. It´s a shame he crashed in the 1999 Vuelta. He could have beaten Ullrich. Olano deserved another GT win, coming so close on numerous occasions. Having a low VO2max myself, I find his feats very impressive and inspiring.

 

[Rominger]

The figure is from a test conducted in 2002, just after Olano retired. I read about it in an article (I can´t recall which article or the title but it´s out there - google Olano+vo2max) and some cycling forums. It is said he never went above 70. He must have been super efficient or very very good at suffering. Mentally great. It´s a shame he crashed in the 1999 Vuelta. He could have beaten Ullrich. Olano deserved another GT win, coming so close on numerous occasions. Having a low VO2max myself, I find his feats very impressive and inspiring.

I'd have to agree, he would (probably) have won the Vuelta in 99 without the crash, he pasted Ulle in the first TT and more thn had the measure of him in the mountains, that defeat really did seem to be a turninf point in his career since he never reached that form again and settled into the job of domestique for Beloki (sadly).

 

[André B]

Well, yes, he went downhill from there. That said, he came 2nd in the 2001 Giro and 4th in the Olympic time trial in 2000 (he also won Tirreno-Adriatico and Criterium International that year, and so forth).

He also ran a marathon in 2:39 two years after his retirement, beating Lance´s best time by, what, 5-6 minutes?

Anyway, nice to see Olano getting some well deserved attention.

 

[Aguirre]

Olano was one of my idols. He really deserves not one, but many threads.
He was one of the major riders from the second half of the 90's.
Go and see his palmarés. How many active riders equal that? not even five

 

[Big GMaC]

 

[Angliru]

Olano winning the World's with a flat tyre on probably the toughest World Championship course ever (Colombia), against Pantani and Virenque in their prime demonstrates that he was a special rider.

Yes he was special but Indurain's marking of every Pantani attack had a bit to do with it too. What that World's shows is that Indurain was pure class and that he was the strongest rider at that event. Luckily for me I bought that video (on VHS) right when WCP was transitioning their video library from VHS to DVD.

 

[Tangled Tango]

Yes he was special but Indurain's marking of every Pantani attack had a bit to do with it too. What that World's shows is that Indurain was pure class and that he was the strongest rider at that event. Luckily for me I bought that video (on VHS) right when WCP was transitioning their video library from VHS to DVD.

So true. Besides Indurain controlling Pantani & Virenque, the spanish team road that worlds brilliantly, I think they had a rider in every break. Just perfect teamwork and yes Indurain one of the classiest champions ever.

 

[icefire]

He had the bad luck to come to prominence just a the end of the Indurain era, so his palmares is underappreciated in his home country and despite being the best Spanish cyclist in the second half of the 90's he was unfairly tagged as an underachiever.

Now he works designing stages for the Vuelta, and he's the target of much criticism from cycling fans.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Olano was a great racer, but getting tagged with "the next Indurain" hurt him (looking like a cousin didn't help). But what a great guy. I understand that after that marathon time he told people he was mostly just having fun. Meaning he probably could have squeezed a few more minutes. I thought he was about 10 minutes faster than LA or Jaja's times? Either way, very impressive.

I had a low VO2Max too, but was best at ITT's (never got above Cat 3 mind you). For me it had to do with pedal efficiency, tuck, and hard concentration. I loved doing it and found it the ultimate challenge, though not a very good bike racer.