Deconstructing Lance Armstrong

What is it, exactly, that boosts Lance Armstrong to the lead position in a pack made up of the best athletes in the world?  Is it his blood lactic acid levels? (6) Or his power output per kilogram of body weight? (6.8 watts) Or his VO2 max? (85) The New York Times puts the question to three exercise physiologists, among them Edward F. Coyle, an exercise physiologist at the University of Texas who studies Mr. Armstrong in his human performance lab. The consenus iis “all of the above and none of the above.”  The paper gives Dr. Coyle the last word, which is his suggestion that the difference between Mr. Armstrong and many of his
competitors may be focus and training techniques. “If
they followed Lance’s preparation and rode on his Discovery team with
the same great teamwork that Discovery has given him,” says Coyle .”And if they can
muster the right mindset to believe they can really do it when it
counts, they could be equally impressive.” Read more.