Evaluating the suitability of supra-POpeak verification trials after ramp-incremental exercise to confirm the attainment of maximum O2 uptake

During exhaustive ramp-incremental cycling tests, the incidence of O-2 uptake ((V) over dot(O2)) plateaus is low. To verify the attainment of maximum (V) over dot(O2) ((V) over dot(O2max)), it is recommended that a trial at a power output (PO) corresponding to 110% of the ramp-derived peak (POpeak) is performed. It remains unclear whether verification trials set at this PO can be tolerated for long enough to allow attainment of (V) over dot(O2max). Eleven recreationally trained individuals performed five ramp tests of varying slope (5, 10. 15. 25, and 30 W/min), each followed, in series, by two verification trials: the first at 110% POpeak of the 25 W/min ramp and the second at 110% POpeak attained in the preceding ramp test. Exercise duration of the first verification trial was on average 81 +/- 15 s (CV = 9 +/- 3%) versus 162 +/- 32, 121 +/- 24, 103 +/- 15, and 73 +/- 10 s for the second verification trials at 110% of POpeak of the 5, 10, 15, and 30 W/min ramp tests, respectively (P < 0.05). Compared with the highest (V) over dot(O2max) recorded during ramp tests, (V) over dot(O2max) from the subsequent verification trials was not different for the 5, 10, and 15 W/min ramp tests (P > 0.05) but was lower for the 25 and 30 W/min ramp tests (P < 0.05). Verification trials at 110% POpeak of rapidly incrementing ramp tests (i.e., 25 W/min) were not sustained for long enough to allow the attainment of (V) over dot(O2max). With commonly used rapidly incrementing ramp tests engendering exhaustion within 8-12 min. verification trials less than POpeak should be preferred as they can be sustained sufficiently long to allow the attainment of (V) over dot(O2max).