![\"Cyclist](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Newsletter-flash-v2-4-970x332.webp.webp\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPerfect preparation?<\/p>\n
![\"vo2_max_test\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/vo2_max_test-970x646.webp.webp\")
Cyclist<\/p>\n
\u2018During the season, teams have used [the normobaric chamber] to recuperate between classics and in preparation for the Giro d\u2019Italia, while the US para-cyclists have used the facility, too,\u2019 explains Jon Wiggins (no relation), former sports scientist at AC Milan and now, among myriad roles, performance manager at the facility. \u2018Van den Bossche also used it ahead of October\u2019s [UCI] Track World Championships in Santiago [where he won the madison].\u2019<\/p>\n
Accelerated recovery is the cyclist\u2019s dream, especially the professional whose exploits include Grand Tours \u2013 three weeks of relentless daily exertion that drains body and mind. Wiggins\u2019 chamber isn\u2019t mobile (though that could be a glimpse into the future, with mobile recovery chambers sandwiched between the team bus and gear truck en route to the team hotel); instead, compression socks, cherry juice, high protein and carbohydrate refuelling, and even recovery boots are the norm.<\/p>\n
But as Wiggins highlighted, this cutting-edge facility comes into its own during the Belgian spring Classics season where a rouleur\u2019s week could feature Gent-Wevelgem on the Sunday, Dwars door Vlaanderen on the Wednesday and the Tour of Flanders the following Sunday. Arguably, he who repairs fastest is best placed to excel.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the aim anyway. But how? What are the mechanisms at play that have attracted the world\u2019s top teams?<\/p>\n
\u2018Key to all the benefits [we\u2019ll come to the specifics shortly] is achieving \u201chyperoxia\u201d,\u2019 says Wiggins. This, as you might suspect, is exposing the athlete to oxygen levels that are higher than normal air (which is around 21%). The opposite is hypoxia, as per altitude training, which is lower than 21%.<\/p>\n
\u2018Oxygen content is up to 40%,\u2019 says Wiggins. \u2018There\u2019s also a pressurised element to proceedings. The earth\u2019s atmosphere is around 1 atmospheric pressure. In the chamber we\u2019re looking at around 1.5 up to 2 atmospheric pressures. We know from Boyle\u2019s and Henry\u2019s Laws that it\u2019s important to understand this and its impact on oxidation at the muscular level.\u2019<\/p>\n
The science is vital and hey, we\u2019re modern cyclists \u2013 we chow down on data and evidence for breakfast (alongside slow-releasing porridge and power-boosting coffee, of course). So, a swift albeit technical explainer\u2026<\/p>\n
In terms of hyperoxia, Henry\u2019s Law explains the main physiological effect: that breathing oxygen-enriched air increases the partial pressure of oxygen, allowing more oxygen to dissolve directly into blood plasma. This is despite haemoglobin being almost fully saturated (and why any performance benefit is potentially short-lived).<\/p>\n
Boyle\u2019s Law, meanwhile, is mainly relevant in pressurised settings, where increased pressure reduces gas volume and raises oxygen pressure in the lungs, further increasing dissolved oxygen. But, again, it doesn\u2019t lead to lasting oxygen storage. Together, these laws explain why hyperoxia can provide brief, acute advantages.<\/p>\n
These advantages include reduced inflammation, acceleration of recovery and even cranking up wound healing. Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the most famous proponent of oxygen therapy, was seeking all three when he invested in a hyperbaric oxygen machine for his Cheshire home during his second spell at Manchester United. Chris Froome also extolled the benefits when recovering from his horror crash of 2019. Both sought out an oxygen boost. But, says Wiggins, they were missing the secret ingredient that he feels separates Paradise from the norm.<\/p>\n
Hydrogen, the unheralded atom<\/p>\n
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Cyclist<\/p>\n
\u2018In our chamber, we have the complementary effect of hydrogen gas,\u2019 says Wiggins. The chamber\u2019s hydrogen content is 1,000 times that of the atmosphere. \u2018Hydrogen gas is intriguing as it works as an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. It has many benefits but only under a pressured environment. Remove it from that environment and it\u2019ll immediately lose its properties to the atmosphere.\u2019<\/p>\n
Together, the oxygen and hydrogen chamber deliver myriad positives conducive to recovery, says Wiggins. As a snapshot, heart rate drops, heart rate variability rises and circulation increases, despite that heart rate drop. From the data, this clears out the metabolites that impair recovery. It also emboldens your most effective recovery tool.<\/p>\n
\u2018Riders who use the chamber enjoy a much better sleep, especially during the deep sleep stage,\u2019 says Wiggins. \u2018This is particularly important as it\u2019s during deep sleep that your mind and body recovers.\u2019 The data also showed markers of immunity shifting up a gear, too.<\/p>\n
\u2018We\u2019ve also had marathon runners in here, recuperating after a race,\u2019 Wiggins says. \u2018Anyone who\u2019s run a marathon knows how sore your muscles are afterwards, but they reported lower levels of muscle soreness than normal, plus lower levels of physical and mental fatigue.\u2019<\/p>\n
The results have also proved positive when doubling up on recovery methods, with riders hitting the chamber for active recovery sessions while easy-pedalling on Zwift, plus sedentary efforts with their legs in a pair of Reboots \u2013 compression apparel that inflates to apply pressure in search of removing waste products.<\/p>\n
And a spot of high oxygen and hydrogen inhalation has seen positive results when pre-loading. That means prepping pre-exercise within the chamber before unleashing a stronger effort. Basically, a warm-up that delivers super-sized benefits.<\/p>\n
Gut health\u2019s another area where there\u2019s compelling evidence the chamber helps. And finally, your mind.<\/p>\n
\u2018In our tests, we can see via analysis of the frontal cortex of the brain that the increased oxygenation is delivering positive \u2013 and for us as scientists \u2013 data-driven adaptations.\u2019 Wiggins caveats that there\u2019s currently minimal evidence that these benefits last, albeit that could simply be down to insufficiently long studies.<\/p>\n
On the face of it, the chamber is the performance panacea. Then again, no tool or strategy guarantees success \u2013 Ineos Grenadiers\u2019 2025 Belgian Classic and semi-Classic win rate remained at zero \u2013 but it does offer a glimpse into the lengths the professionals go to in search of success. That said, recreational riders often visit, albeit it\u2019s clearly impractical unless you live in the area or you\u2019re tackling an amateur event like the Tour of Flanders Sportive. (Even with my frugal hat on, the pricing seems respectable: it\u2019s \u20ac30 for a two-hour session or \u20ac180 for one night\u2019s accommodation including a session.)<\/p>\n
There is evidence<\/a> that the more practical hydrogen-rich water might reduce exercise-related oxidative stress and support recovery through selective antioxidant effects, but it doesn\u2019t directly enhance performance and evidence remains mixed.<\/p>\n Hydrogen machines are by no means new either \u2013 China used them in a therapeutic setting to treat Covid patients. They\u2019re about the size of a domestic coffee machine and, for the performance-seeking rider, might appeal if budget allows.<\/p>\n WADA\u2019s potential nightmare<\/p>\n Wiggins is a credible and acclaimed sport scientist. The evidence certainly appears to support the sell, albeit peer-reviewed studies into the facility would be the next step. But it got me thinking, what if there was a free method of potentially enjoying these gas-based recovery benefits, a way that was more democratic and would create hyperoxia without the need for any tool? I dug into the studies, but hit a brick wall.<\/p>\n I then tapped up a former coach at WorldTour level who is like the Yoda of cycling science to check if he was aware of any methods. He said no, \u2018but I have something of even greater interest\u2019. Interest piqued.<\/p>\n \u2018I can\u2019t disclose too much, which is why I wish to remain unnamed, but here\u2019s a heads-up. I\u2019ve found a way to increase haematocrit levels, which is going to cause big problems for WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency]. I\u2019ve already been in contact with Anti-Doping Denmark about it. It\u2019s legal and is akin to undertaking an altitude camp at home.\u2019<\/p>\n Haematocrit is the percentage of your blood that\u2019s made up of red blood cells. As red blood cells carry oxygen to your working muscles, the higher the better (within reason), certainly for an endurance athlete. An adult man\u2019s is around 41% to 45%; a woman 36% to 41%. Historically, the alarms would go off at WADA if haematocrit levels tipped over 50% as that was often a sign of doping. Back to our insider and his potentially game-changing revelation\u2026<\/p>\n \u2018Eukaryotic cells first appeared about 1.6 billion years ago when there was far less oxygen in the air,\u2019 he says. Most scientists think it was around 1% of today\u2019s level of roughly 21%. So, we\u2019re looking at around 0.2% oxygen. \u2018Fast-forward to the present day and the majority of our cells have held onto this low oxygen environment.\u2019<\/p>\n In other words, our cells function at an oxygen level that harks back to times gone by. For arterial blood you\u2019re looking at 13% to 14% oxygen; most body tissue is 1% to 7%; while bone marrow, cartilage and parts of the gut and skin are around 1%.<\/p>\n What our former WorldTour coach has discovered is that by agitating what he calls \u2018the latent potential of these ancient cells\u2019, you stimulate the production of erythropoietin (EPO). This is down to oxygen-sensing proteins that our man\u2019s become obsessed by. \u2018They are hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF-1, HIF-2 and HIF-3). When oxygen is low, HIFs switch on the EPO gene, increasing red blood cells to improve oxygen delivery.\u2019<\/p>\n This discovery proved central to the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine going to William Kaelin, Sir Peter Ratcliffe and Gregg Semenza. They identified the molecular mechanisms and machinery that regulate gene activity depending on oxygen levels.<\/p>\n From Nobel prize to performance<\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s when I dusted off my old textbooks,\u2019 he says. What he discovered has seen him knocking on WADA\u2019s door: that by following a regimented protocol of breathwork, you can stimulate EPO to levels that match that achieved at altitude.<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ve undertaken studies, we\u2019ve ticked off blood tests, we have the data, and we\u2019ve shown individuals can boost their haematocrit levels from 42% to 48% within three weeks thanks to daily 15- to 20-minute breathing work.\u2019 That 15- to 20-minute period is the time it takes to activate HIF-1 into cranking up EPO production.<\/p>\n This physiological adaptation, he adds, results in a performance boost across the power profile, from one minute to 20 minutes. Key, he says, is that the breathwork is individualised \u2013 he\u2019s clear that he is working on an app that is due to go live soon \u2013 plus you measure oxygen-saturation levels via your finger.<\/p>\n \u2018Basically, you\u2019d treat it like a traditional altitude camp, but without having to leave your home. So, you\u2019d ensure your iron levels are stable in the four weeks before and don\u2019t lower bodyweight, either, as you need extra energy at \u201caltitude\u201d. Then, you might ride pretty hard \u2013 like 40\/20s [40sec hard, 20sec recovery] \u2013 fuelling properly. Finish, sit down and listen to the app, which will guide you through the breathing protocol \u2013 via AI, what else? You\u2019re given a personalised breath-holding programme based on your current level. It\u2019ll register your oxygen-saturation levels and you\u2019ll be told to hold your breath longer or back off. Simple.\u2019<\/p>\n Obviously, I can\u2019t verify the claims but I have seen the confidential background data, the patent is in place, and the source and evidence is credible. In a recent feature<\/a>, breathing expert Patrick McKeown told us the field of breathing \u2013 or of not breathing, in the case of hypoxia \u2013 will accelerate in the next five years. He could well be right. Keep an eye out for developments in 2026.<\/p>\n![\"doping\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/doping-970x646.webp.webp\")
<\/p>\n![\"guide_to_altitude_training_1\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/guide_to_altitude_training_1-970x645.webp.webp\")
Cyclist<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What do Ineos Grenadiers, Soudal-QuickStep, Alpecin-Deceuninck\u2019s Fabio Van den Bossche and US para-cyclists have in common? In 2025,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":358818,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[569],"tags":[64,63,784,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-358817","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-cycling","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=358817"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358817\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/358818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=358817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=358817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=358817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}