It's not enough to have endurance to win Cycling races. Other parameters such as a developed tactical sense, an ability to descend well and a strong collective also come into account. But having an engine that's always a little more efficient, especially in an endurance sport, will always bring you closer to victory.
If cycling is undoubtedly not limited to a battle of VO2max within the peloton, this does not prevent certain teams from doing everything to improve the maximum oxygen absorption capacity of their riders. Just like… inhaling carbon monoxide, a practice that could replace altitude training. According to a study by the American College of Sports Medicine, relayed in a survey published by the German magazine Tourit constitutes a health hazard, but causes a significant gain in performance. This study echoes the survey, signed Escape Collective, and dated Friday July 12, revealing the use among several Tour de France teams.
Extra red blood cells
Sports doctor from the University of Bayreuth, Walter Schmidt participated in September 2020 in one of the rare studies on the topic of improving performance using carbon monoxide. The protocol was as follows: trained athletes were allowed, five times a day for three weeks, to inhale low doses of carbon monoxide. “Five percent of the hemoglobin in the blood was blocked by the gas intended to transport oxygen. Result: the hemoglobin mass of the test subjects increased by an average of 4.8% and the maximum oxygen absorption capacity VO2max tended to increase by a similar amount,” relays the magazine Tour.
To compensate for the temporary lack of oxygen, the human body reacts by increasing the release of its own hormone, erythropoietin, and thus producing additional red blood cells. “It’s a potentially dangerous method, but it could replace any training at altitude,” believes Professor Walter Schmidt.
Pogacar and Vingegaard tested
The Visma-Lease a Bike and Israel-Premier Tech teams use devices from Lundby, a Danish professor of medicine from the company Detalo. “They measure blood volume or changes in it by inhaling carbon monoxide, taking a blood sample and evaluating it using special software. All device usage data, including usage frequency, is automatically sent to his company and he has so far not observed any misuse beyond data-driven blood volume measurement “, underlines the magazine Tour.
Lundby points out that Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates do not use Detalo devices. During the Tour de France, the insatiable Slovenian, less relaxed than usual, declared having inhaled carbon monoxide coming from a sort of balloon. “This description corresponds to a device like that manufactured and sold by the company Blood tec whose CEO is… Walter Schmidt”, explain Tour.
Carbon monoxide, a deadly gas
Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic gas that can be fatal if inhaled in large quantities. Hemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen in the human body and oxygen cannot compete in this race against carbon monoxide. “Experience has shown that no symptoms are observed up to a value of 10% hemoglobin containing carbon monoxide. Symptoms of poisoning occur in 20 to 30 percent of cases, and from 40 percent they can be life-threatening. From a concentration of 60% of “occupied” red blood cells, poisoning leads to death within one hour. underlines Tour.
When a body no longer gets enough oxygen, people suffocate. “If carbon monoxide is used incorrectly, if the quantity is incorrectly calculated or if a valve is incorrectly adjusted, there is a risk of poisoning with consequences including death,” warns for Tour Professor Volker Auwachter, toxicologist from Fribourg, who also works in the anti-doping prosecution.
It's not (yet) doping for the World Anti-Doping Agency
According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), inhaling carbon monoxide is not considered doping. “This is definitely part of the list of doping products,” says Professor Schmidt about regularly inhaling carbon monoxide to improve performance. The problem: The World Anti-Doping Agency lacks clarity on the effects of carbon monoxide. “There is no consensus as to whether carbon monoxide can have a performance-enhancing effect, and there is currently no sufficiently reliable data to support this claim,” declared the Ama via its spokesperson two months after the end of the Tour de France.
READ ALSO. POINT OF VIEW. Pogacar on the Tour de France, a circus in itself
The WADA is closely following the issue of carbon monoxide, and in particular its repeated and regular use of the inhalation method. Because this could violate passage M1.2, which prohibits manipulation of oxygen consumption. “Three points play a role if a method or active ingredient is to be included on the doping list: it must have performance-enhancing potential, it must be harmful to health and it must violate sports ethics – three points which are fundamentally linked to carbon monoxide”, concludes Tour.
