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Ferrari on Merckx, Virenque, glycogen and fat

Started by Dan Tompkins · · Last activity · 11 posts · 422 views

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Road Cycling
Published
15 July 2004
Last activity
18 July 2004
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Dan Tompkins
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  1. Commenting on stage 11, Dr. Ferrari at www.cyclingnews.com said this:

    "Together with a perhaps too generous Axel Merckx for 130 km, the
    French rider gave his best in the last 2 hours of the stage: while
    Axel ran out of fuel (read: glycogen), Virenque's metabolism,
    privileging the use of fat as energetic source, allowed him to spare
    glycogen stores for the final part of the race."

    How does one determine whether a rider is burning fat or glycogen?
    Two Ph.D.s and one surgeon so far have been unable to figure this out.

    Dan Tompkins

  2. Dan Tompkins said:

    Commenting on stage 11, Dr. Ferrari at www.cyclingnews.com said this:

    "Together with a perhaps too generous Axel Merckx for 130 km, the
    French rider gave his best in the last 2 hours of the stage: while
    Axel ran out of fuel (read: glycogen), Virenque's metabolism,
    privileging the use of fat as energetic source, allowed him to spare
    glycogen stores for the final part of the race."

    How does one determine whether a rider is burning fat or glycogen?
    Two Ph.D.s and one surgeon so far have been unable to figure this out.

    Dan Tompkins

    Who are the two PhDs and one surgeon? Supposedly, people burn a higher
    percentage of fat at lower effort. Perhaps Virenque was using a lower
    effort?

    --
    Bob in CT
    Remove ".x" to reply

  3. "Dan Tompkins" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Commenting on stage 11, Dr. Ferrari at www.cyclingnews.com said this:

    "Together with a perhaps too generous Axel Merckx for 130 km, the
    French rider gave his best in the last 2 hours of the stage: while
    Axel ran out of fuel (read: glycogen), Virenque's metabolism,
    privileging the use of fat as energetic source, allowed him to spare
    glycogen stores for the final part of the race."

    How does one determine whether a rider is burning fat or glycogen?

    It is just an experienced guess. The fact that Richard continued after Axel
    bonked gives you the idea that Axel was burning his glycogen at a relatively
    faster rate. They were both using fat as engergy sources or else they would
    not be able to finish a single stage. Doesn't it then follow that the guy
    that does not bonk is using fat more efficiently?

    Quoted message said:

    Two Ph.D.s and one surgeon so far have been unable to figure this out.

    Dan Tompkins

    Too bad for them.

  4. Chris wrote in message <[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:


    "Dan Tompkins" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Commenting on stage 11, Dr. Ferrari at www.cyclingnews.com said this:

    "Together with a perhaps too generous Axel Merckx for 130 km, the
    French rider gave his best in the last 2 hours of the stage: while
    Axel ran out of fuel (read: glycogen), Virenque's metabolism,
    privileging the use of fat as energetic source, allowed him to spare
    glycogen stores for the final part of the race."

    How does one determine whether a rider is burning fat or glycogen?

    It is just an experienced guess. The fact that Richard continued after


    Axel

    Quoted message said:

    bonked gives you the idea that Axel was burning his glycogen at a


    relatively

    Quoted message said:

    faster rate. They were both using fat as engergy sources or else they would
    not be able to finish a single stage. Doesn't it then follow that the guy
    that does not bonk is using fat more efficiently?

    Ferrari is a disciple of Conconi, and is just one of several Italian sports
    doctors on the leading edge of world training research begun by Conconi and
    others 2 decades ago. While Ferrari may have assisted some riders in
    doping, LA probably didn't choose him for that, but for other training
    methods. Undoubtedly, Carmichael learned those methods along with LA and
    adpated the training program for LA based on what they both learned. It
    would include lacate measuring and other metrics to determine training pace
    and recovery times, etc. The Italians have been ahead of other researchers
    on this.

    - Tony

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Two Ph.D.s and one surgeon so far have been unable to figure this out.

    Dan Tompkins

    Too bad for them.

  5. Chris said:


    It is just an experienced guess. The fact that Richard continued
    after Axel bonked gives you the idea that Axel was burning his
    glycogen at a relatively faster rate. They were both using fat as
    engergy sources or else they would not be able to finish a single
    stage. Doesn't it then follow that the guy that does not bonk is
    using fat more efficiently?


    No. After a 130km breakaway, the guy who does not bonk is eating more
    intelligently during the ride.

  6. "Dan Tompkins" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Commenting on stage 11, Dr. Ferrari at www.cyclingnews.com said this:

    "Together with a perhaps too generous Axel Merckx for 130 km, the
    French rider gave his best in the last 2 hours of the stage: while
    Axel ran out of fuel (read: glycogen), Virenque's metabolism,
    privileging the use of fat as energetic source, allowed him to spare
    glycogen stores for the final part of the race."

    How does one determine whether a rider is burning fat or glycogen?

    Lots of ways, but none particularly conducive for use out on the open road -
    one of those portable metabolic "carts" would be your best bet.

    Quoted message said:

    Two Ph.D.s and one surgeon so far have been unable to figure this out.

    Huh?

    W/o any measurements whatsoever, I can state with nearly absolute certainty
    that both Merckx and Virenque were oxidizing a mixture of both fat and
    carbohydrate during their escape.

    Andy Coggan

  7. "Chris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Doesn't it then follow that the guy
    that does not bonk is using fat more efficiently?

    And here I was thinking that it meant that Virenque could burn fat at the
    same rate but only had to lift 3/4's the weight over the mountains. What WAS
    I thinking?

  8. "Tony" <qtrader2@(remove)hotmail.com> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Ferrari is a disciple of Conconi, and is just one of several Italian


    sports

    Quoted message said:

    doctors on the leading edge of world training research begun by Conconi


    and

    Quoted message said:

    others 2 decades ago. While Ferrari may have assisted some riders in
    doping, LA probably didn't choose him for that, but for other training
    methods.

    You really shouldn't slander people like that. So far there are no charges
    against Ferrari who, it may very well turn out, did nothing more than
    explain to riders what drugs did what and what their dangers were.

    Would you agree that if you were a doctor and you suspected that some riders
    in your care might resort to drugs that you might feel a responsibility to
    make sure that they knew enough about it to not harm themselves?

  9. "Tom Kunich" wrote...

    Quoted message said:


    You really shouldn't slander people like that.

    Libel, not slander.

  10. "Jim Flom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:z10Kc.48975$Rf.4426@edtnps84...

    Quoted message said:

    "Tom Kunich" wrote...

    Quoted message said:


    You really shouldn't slander people like that.

    Libel, not slander.

    I always get those two mixed up. Sort of like Henry and Brian.

  11. "Kyle Legate" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:
    Chris said:


    It is just an experienced guess. The fact that Richard continued
    after Axel bonked gives you the idea that Axel was burning his
    glycogen at a relatively faster rate. They were both using fat as
    engergy sources or else they would not be able to finish a single
    stage. Doesn't it then follow that the guy that does not bonk is
    using fat more efficiently?


    No. After a 130km breakaway, the guy who does not bonk is eating more
    intelligently during the ride.

    fitness plays a bigger role. if you're not fit enough for the
    intensity you're trying to ride, no amount of food will prevent
    bonking.

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