Who Has the Highest VO2 Max: Runners, Cyclists or Triathletes?
In one of the research papers I reviewed, it noted that triathletes could have LT heart rates that were equal in cycling and running, while other studies found LT heart rate values to be different for different sports. Running typically elicits the highest VO2 max of the two sports—cycling vs. running. However, trained cyclists can achieve VO2 max values on the cycling ergometer as high as trained runners can achieve on the treadmill. Interestingly, when triathletes are tested in cycling and running, the results are conflicting. One study found that LT heart rates varied with individual athlete sport history, combined with specific sport. In other words, people that came from a single-sport background to triathlon could drive high LT heart rate values in their primary sport. People that were not highly trained in a single sport and were trained as triathletes could drive LT heart rate values that were near equal in cycling and running.
