What made Lance Armstrong successful?

Answer 1

Several factors contributed to Lance Armstrong's success as a cyclist:

• Genetics. The maximal oxygen uptake rate, known as VO2 max, is something that can be developed through training, but is also limited by heredity. Lance Armstrong's VO2 max, has been reported to be 85 ml/kg/min. Even more significant to his success is his power to weight ratio. Lance is 5'9" tall and 165 lbs., a body type well-suited to hill-climbing. Between 1992, when he competed in the Summer Olympics, and 1999, when he won his first Tour de France, Lance lost 15 lbs., and increased his power output by 9%.

• Focus. Unlike most of his competitors, Lance focused his training program exclusively on the Tour de France and did not compete in many of the other races leading up to it.
• Teamwork. Nothing succeeds like success and the teams built around Lance were chosen from the best riders in the world. The contribution of USPS/Discovery team director and master tactician Johan Bruyneel cannot be overstated.