/6 Signs You Might Have Pro Cyclist Genetics/
Life’s unfair. You already knew that.
Somewhere out there, a guy is pumping out 400 watts on a group ride after six months in the saddle. You? You’ve been grinding for years just to hold 250 for twenty minutes, and your legs feel like they were put through a meat grinder.
But what if the real Tour de France champion isn’t even on a bike? What if he’s standing in a fast-food joint, flipping your burger, never knowing he could be on a podium in Paris?
Genetics. They’re either your golden ticket or the joke the universe played on you. You don’t choose them. They choose you.
And maybe, just maybe, they chose some guy who doesn’t even know it yet.
So, how do you know if you’re one of the freaks? Here are six signs you might have pro-level cycling genetics—whether you like it or not.
1. Your VO2 Max Is Through the Roof
Ever heard of VO2 max? It’s your engine size. Your body’s ability to process oxygen and turn it into raw, glorious speed.
A normal guy? Maybe 35-45 ml/kg/min.
Weekend warrior? 50-60 ml/kg/min.
Pro cyclist? 70-90 ml/kg/min.
Elite freaks like Pogacar? Over 90.
Got tested and found out your VO2 max is higher than your credit score? Welcome to the club.
| VO2 Max Levels | Typical Person | Weekend Warrior | Pro Cyclist | Freak of Nature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ml/kg/min | 35-45 | 50-60 | 70-90 | 90+ |
2. You Recover Like Wolverine
You destroy your legs on a ride, barely able to walk, but the next day? Fresh. Like yesterday never happened.
The average guy limps for a week. You bounce back in a day. Maybe less. That’s genetics. Recovery isn’t just willpower—it’s cellular. Your body wants to keep going. That’s a gift.
3. Your Resting Heart Rate is Stupidly Low
Most people walk around with a resting heart rate of 70-80 bpm. Cyclists? They’re down in the 40s.
Miguel Indurain? 28 bpm. His heart probably ticked once every time yours ticked three times. If your resting heart rate is absurdly low, your cardiovascular system might be on god mode.
| Resting Heart Rate (BPM) | Average Person | Active Person | Pro Cyclist | Indurain-Level Alien |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPM | 70-80 | 50-60 | 35-45 | 28 |
4. You Can Suffer Like a Maniac
Suffering is a skill. Or maybe it’s a mutation.
The best cyclists in the world don’t just ride fast—they hurt better. When your legs are screaming, lungs burning, vision fading, and you still push harder? That’s not normal. That’s a rare, masochistic gift.
5. You Have Stupidly Strong Legs for No Reason
Maybe you’ve never touched a squat rack, but your legs still look like tree trunks. Some people have the genetic jackpot of raw muscle fiber composition—fast-twitch, slow-twitch, or the perfect cocktail of both.
Somewhere out there, some guy with quads that could crush watermelons is standing over a fryer, not knowing he could be leading the peloton up the Alps.
6. You’re Freakishly Fast Without Training
Some people train their whole lives to be decent. Others hop on a bike for the first time and start dusting the local group ride.
Talent like that doesn’t come from YouTube tutorials. It’s not the result of “hard work” or “grit.” It’s in the DNA. It’s either there, or it’s not.
The Conclusion: The Fastest Rider Alive Has Probably Never Ridden a Bike
There’s a guy out there, right now, who could win the Tour de France. He just doesn’t know it.
Maybe he’s driving a forklift. Maybe he’s pulling a double shift at a diner. Maybe he’s delivering your Amazon package.
The world isn’t fair.
Somewhere, a cycling prodigy is stuck in traffic, stressed about rent, never knowing that his legs—those same legs he stands on every day—could be worth millions.
And you? Maybe you’re the guy. Maybe you aren’t.
But if you are, there’s only one way to find out.
Get on a bike.
Ride until it hurts.
And if you keep going, past the pain, past the exhaustion, past everything normal people stop at—well, then maybe, just maybe, you’re one of them.
But you’ll never know unless you start.
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