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Presentation by Dr. Abel Rendón D.Sc., DPT, PT

A VO2 max test measures how much oxygen your body can use during maximal exercise. It’s one of the most direct ways to assess cardiorespiratory fitness.

How useful is it?
For endurance athletes: Very useful. It can help quantify aerobic capacity, track training adaptations, and help set training zones.
For general health: Useful, because higher cardiorespiratory fitness is strongly associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease and premature mortality.

What a good test looks like
A laboratory test using a treadmill or bike with a metabolic cart and breath-by-breath oxygen analysis is much more accurate than a smartwatch estimate.

Consider it worthwhile if you want to improve performance
The biggest benefit isn't simply learning your VO2 max number. A good cycling CPET can give you:
VO2 max — your maximum aerobic capacity.
First ventilatory threshold (VT1/LT1) — useful for determining an appropriate endurance-training intensity.
Second ventilatory threshold (VT2/LT2) — helps identify harder sustained efforts and training zones.
Heart rate and power at those thresholds — probably the most practically useful information for your riding.