Altitude training for cyclists: does it work and could you benefit? (video)

Breathing air with less oxygen stimulates physiological changes that can boost performance, but for amateur cyclists, is it really worth the time, effort and money?

Your lungs are burning, heart pounding, breathing rate frantic — and this is just your local climb. The thought of riding up actual mountains 1,000 or more metres higher than your nemesis British hill may seem daunting. As you climb to 1,000m and beyond, the air begins to get thinner, with noticeable effects on performance.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Paul Knott is a fitness and features writer, who has also presented Cycling Weekly videos as well as contributing to the print magazine as well as online articles.  In 2020 he published his first book, The Official Tour de France Road Cycling Training Guide (Welbeck), a guide designed to help readers improve their cycling performance via cherrypicking from the strategies adopted by the pros.