Maximal oxygen uptake as a predictor of performance ability in women and men elite cross‐country skiers

Maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O 2max ) was measured in 51 females and males classified as either world‐class, medium‐class or less successful elite skiers. The V̇O 2max in the male world‐class skiers was significantly higher (mean 85.6 ml·kg −1 ·min −1 or 355 ml·min −1 kg −23 ) than in the other elite skiers. World‐class and medium‐class female skiers had identical mean V̇O 2max expressed in ml·kg −1 ·min −1 (70.7 and 70.6, respectively), but the values differed significantly when the unit ml·min −1 kg −2/3 was used (274 and 264, respectively). V̇O 2max expressed as ml·min −1 ·kg −2/3 reflects differences in performance capability among elite skiers better than the unit ml·kg −1 ·min −1 .