Elite athletes train at intensities characterized by high RPMs and low lactate levels, such as under 1.8 mmol/L, which are within their optimal range for mitochondrial function.

“But even for them, because for them their mitochondrial density infraction is so incredible. And the way they recruit that type 1 muscle fibers... It's so big that you need to push it. So it's having a much bigger gear range. Exactly. It's like in the first gear that we say, when you get to the 7,000, 8,000 RPM, you're in the red zone. Okay, you push it there. This guy's first gear is in the 15,000 RPM. So you still need to push into the 15,000, which could be, they really go very fast. But then you see their lactate and the lactate is not more than 1.8.”