Forget VO2 max – a Tour de France cyclist's defining quality is their frightening capacity to suffer

A BikeRadar feature explores why the ability to endure suffering — rather than metrics like VO2 max — is considered the defining quality of Tour de France cyclists. The article references legendary cyclists Eddy Merckx and Fausto Coppi, both of whom famously described cycling as fundamentally about suffering. It examines the science behind pain tolerance, noting that while blood lactate levels offer some insight, suffering cannot be objectively measured and remains a subjective experience.