Tadej Pogačar may have a VO₂ max reaching 96 ml/kg/min, according to a new study—potentially making him the most physiologically remarkable Tour de France champion ever.
VO₂ max represents the maximum amount of oxygen an athlete can use during all-out effort. Elite male pros typically fall somewhere between the mid-70s and high-80s, with only the absolute top performers surpassing 90. Miguel Induráin was reportedly around 88, similar to Chris Froome, while Greg LeMond has said his value was about 93.
But new analysis from Norwegian researcher Ole Kristian Berg, published in the Journal of Science & Cycling last week, suggests Pogačar’s numbers are even higher.
Using data from six summit-finish victories across the 2024 and 2025 Tours, Berg estimated Pogačar’s critical power and VO₂ max. His findings showed that Pogačar’s ride on Plateau de Beille in 2024 implied a VO₂ max somewhere between 91 and 96 ml/kg/min, likely toward the upper end of that range.
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