After the Tour De France victory, the Danish winner was asked if he was doping-free. Then he gave credit to high-altitude training for his strong form: – Here, everyone is clean. What we do is, among other things, very serious altitude training, he said. Bent Rønnestad, professor of sports physiology at Høgskolen i Innlandet, believes the answer indicates that Vingegaard is very satisfied with the altitude training. WINNER: The Danish winner of the Tour de France Jon Vingegaard praises the altitude system. Photo: CHRISTIAN HARTMANN / Reuters Laboratory on the mountain And this is where Høgskolen i Inlandet comes in. They have collaborated with Jumbo-Visma for ten years specifically on altitude training. – We measure the effect of altitude training on red blood cells before and after staying at altitude, says Rønningstad. Many do similar work to the University College, but the unique thing they have done is that they have moved the laboratory to where the collection is, even though this has presented quite large logistical challenges. Before the Tour de France, they took part in two such gatherings. – This way we can measure the effect of the training precisely, says Rønnestad. COLLABORATION: Innlandet University College and Professor Bent Rønningstad have collaborated with Jumbo-Visma for ten years. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsfrud Based on what the measurements show, training and plans can be adjusted. And the more red blood cells that are produced, the more oxygen to the muscles and the better the performance. Thus, Høgskolen i Innlandet has some of the credit for Jumbo-Visma and Vingegaard’s achievements. Rønnestad thinks it is difficult to say how much of the credit, but the work they have done is an important piece. – It is one of many important details that must be put in place. The measurements we make are used actively to get even better results. But why did the University College in the hinterland get this job? Jo: – This is due to the good and long cooperation we have had for ten years. Where we have built good relationships where we complement each other well, says Rønnestad. Dreaming of overall victory Cycling talent Johannes Staune-Mittet (20) from Lillehammer is on Jumbo-Visma’s development team. He was recently on his first stay at high altitude, where the University College in Innlandet took part in order to measure the effect the altitude training had on him. TEST: Johannes Staune-Mittet in the test lab at Høgskolen i Innlandet in Lillehammer with professor Bent Rønningstad. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news And the work the University does can be an important piece for him to achieve his highest dream, namely to win the Tour de France overall. Should he succeed in that, he will then become the first Norwegian. – It is clear that it is permissible to set big ambitions. It’s still a long way off, but it’s just a matter of doing the work. You can see that there are both people from Scandinavia and now also Norway who are starting to assert themselves up there, so it is permissible to make a good effort and just go for it, says Staune-Mittet. He thinks it is difficult to say why Norway has not had an overall winner in the Tour de France. – The best riders we’ve had haven’t been at their best there. – What have you done differently from previous Norwegian cyclists to be in a position to become a future overall rider? – It’s not really a good thing to say. I have found something that I think is fun myself. I like slightly longer climbs and like to use the terrain here around Lillehammer, for example. He believes that continuity and having fun are important for his own part.
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Johannes Staune-Mittet on the test bench after his first stay at altitude abroad – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
