VO2max
1. Why VO₂max Still Matters
VO₂max, your maximum oxygen uptake, has long been used as a gold-standard measure of aerobic capacity. It reflects how efficiently your body can deliver and use oxygen during sustained exercise.
But while lab-tested VO₂max remains useful, it’s not always practical. Testing can be invasive, expensive, or simply hard to access.
That’s why Vekta estimates VO₂max using real-world power data, giving you a dynamic, daily-updating view of your aerobic fitness, without needing a mask and lab equipment.
2. Why Vekta Uses Power-Based VO₂max Estimation
Rather than relying on a lab test or outdated FTP-based formulas, Vekta estimates VO₂max using your theoretical 5-minute peak power output (PPO), calculated in watts per kilogram.
The equation we use is:
VO₂max (ml/min/kg) = 16.61 + 8.87 × 5-min PPO (W/kg)
(Sitko et al., 2022)
Why this method? Because your 5-minute power strongly correlates with VO₂max, and it’s grounded in data you're already producing through regular training.
3. How the 5-Minute PPO Is Calculated
Vekta doesn’t just grab your best 5-minute effort from the past month and call it a day. Instead, we estimate your true 5-minute PPO from your daily Critical Power (CP) and W′ values, two metrics that already adapt in real-time based on your session data.
This means your VO₂max estimate evolves continuously alongside your training and racing efforts.
📍 On your Vekta Profile page:
The purple bar represents your best recorded 5-minute effort
The red line shows the estimated 5-minute PPO used to calculate VO₂max
This gives you a more accurate and responsive picture of your aerobic capacity, especially if you haven’t pushed your all-out 5-minute power recently.
4. Limitations to Keep in Mind
Like any model, VO₂max estimation isn’t perfect. Factors like fatigue, altitude, equipment calibration, or incomplete data may affect results. However, when tracked over time, trends in Vekta’s VO₂max are highly informative, especially when paired with your full power-duration profile.
5. The Bottom Line
VO₂max isn’t the full story, but it’s still a powerful indicator of aerobic fitness. Vekta gives you a reliable, research-backed way to track it continuously using the data you already produce.
Further Reading
Sitko S, Cirer-Sastre R, Corbi F, López-Laval I.
Five-Minute Power-Based Test to Predict Maximal Oxygen Consumption in Road Cycling.
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2022; 17(1):9–15.
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2020-0891