Cycling · VO2max
VO2 PYRAMID
1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 min at VO2max, equal recovery
WHAT IT TRAINS
A long VO2max session with a mental game built in: up the pyramid and back down.
WHO IT'S FOR
Experienced riders with several VO2 sessions behind them.
HOW TO DO IT
- 01Warm up 15 minutes.
- 021, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 minutes at 110–120% FTP.
- 03Recover as long as each effort.
- 04Cool down 10 minutes.
SCALED VERSION
1-2-3-2-1.
Build the scaled version in Forge →TARGETS THAT FIT YOU
Every target is a percentage of FTP. Your Garmin applies it to the FTP saved on your device or in Garmin Connect, so the same workout fits every rider — keep your FTP up to date.
THE WORKOUT, STEP BY STEP
CYCLING1h 14min
VO2 Pyramid
1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 min at VO2max, equal recovery · Fit File Forge Workout Library: www.fitfileforge.com/workouts/library/vo2-pyramid
WARMUP15 minTarget: 50-75% FTP
Build from 50% to 75% FTP.
INTERVAL1 minTarget: 116.4-123.6% FTP
RECOVERY1 minTarget: 48.5-51.5% FTP
INTERVAL2 minTarget: 114.46-121.54% FTP
RECOVERY2 minTarget: 48.5-51.5% FTP
INTERVAL3 minTarget: 111.55-118.45% FTP
RECOVERY3 minTarget: 48.5-51.5% FTP
INTERVAL4 minTarget: 108.64-115.36% FTP
RECOVERY4 minTarget: 48.5-51.5% FTP
INTERVAL5 minTarget: 106.7-113.3% FTP
RECOVERY5 minTarget: 48.5-51.5% FTP
INTERVAL4 minTarget: 108.64-115.36% FTP
RECOVERY4 minTarget: 48.5-51.5% FTP
INTERVAL3 minTarget: 111.55-118.45% FTP
RECOVERY3 minTarget: 48.5-51.5% FTP
INTERVAL2 minTarget: 114.46-121.54% FTP
RECOVERY2 minTarget: 48.5-51.5% FTP
INTERVAL1 minTarget: 116.4-123.6% FTP
COOLDOWN10 minTarget: 48.5-51.5% FTP
RELATED WORKOUTS
- CyclingVO2maxDifficulty 4 of 5 — Very hard
VO2 Descending Ladder
5-4-3-2-1 min, harder as they get shorter, equal recovery
1 h
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