Altitude is the new reason for improved performances and faster times across the peleton claims San Milan.
Thread 1/
Since the 1968 Mexico Olympics altitude training has been systematically applied in preparation to enhance athletic performance.
Altitude training methodology was developed during the 70s & 80s with mass adoption in the 90s across most of the world.
researchgate.net/publication/33…
2/
In 1966 the USOC organised a conference where the consensuses of principles of altitude training were developed to enhance athletic performance.
The USSR & USA developed sports centres at altitude in the search of how best to prepare athletes for competitions at altitude.
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During the 70's East Germany utilised altitude training as one means to enhance performance allegedly first with swimmers, rowers & then middle & long distance runners.
East Germany applied a 21day sojourn at 2000m followed by 21day return to sea level prior to the Olympics
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After Canida's poor success with altitude at the 1988 Sepul Olympics the "Canadian Model" was developed. To attempt to reduce the offset of over training experienced by adopting the East German method.
By the 90s altitude training branched out beyond the original pioneers.
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The 90's & Hypoxic chambers.
Hypoxic tents & Chambers were already in use by the 80s and became increasingly popular by the 90s.
Athletes sleep in tents to increase their haemoglobin & hematocrit stimulated by the production of EPO in the body when levels of 02 are low.
6/
By the 2000 Olympics 5/14 finalists 9/21 (45%) of swimmers had attended an altitude training camp prior to the games.
By Athens 2004 5/7 Olympic medalists, 9/14 finalists and 14/20 (70%) of swimmers attended altitude training camps prior to the games.
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By the 00s use of altitude tents was becoming very popular.
However, athletes were declaring use of Hypoxic chambers as means to explain high levels of hematocrit levels to explain doping methods.
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Altitude & the Biological Passport (ABP):
A 2014 study within elite swimmers reported an altitude sojourn can cause abnormal ABP values for upto 4 weeks post altitude and needs to be considered as a confounding factor.
…iencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.100…
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ABP & Altitude or Not.
Due to the elevated levels attributed to altitude exposure impacting the ABP, this leaves a window of opportunity for athletes to use elicit methods straying from natural variations but explain them via altitude to avoid a sanction.
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Use of altitude in cyclists:
Within the Chris Boardman documentary 'The Final Hour' documenting his hour record in 2000 Boardman creates a hypoxic chamber in his home to stimulate an erythropotic response.
(~8mins)
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An article by Carmichaels Training Systems (Lance Armstrong's) coach details how Lance used altitude training camps during his Tour come back in 2008/09.
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Team Sky's documentation of altitude training camps has been well publicised. Here this 2016 article highlights some of Team Sky's approach to altitude. Multiple altitude camps are used for long durations with the next camp duration at a month in duration cited.
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Subsequently many professional cycling teams have used Mount Teide in Tenerife as a base for altitude training.
Teams include Sky, Astana & Cannondale.
Many of teams use altitude camps all over the world.
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Altitude training is not new! It's been used in sport since prior to the 1968 Olympics.
Only A few countries used altitude training in the 70s & 80s.
Altitude training was heavily used by the 90s.
By the turn of the 00s hypoxic chambers & tents were frequently used.
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Altitude training provides a legitimate means to increasing red blood cell & haemoglobin levels to enhance performance.
However, it can also be abused by dopers. It offers an excuse for athletes to dope & explain abnormal biological passport readings from altitude.
16/ Fin
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