<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--
  High Torque Training — Zwift workout
  Last updated: 2026-05-23

  Site:      https://high-torque.jelen.dk/
  Calendar:  https://high-torque.jelen.dk/content/workouts.md
  Rationale: https://high-torque.jelen.dk/content/rationale.md
  LLMs:      https://high-torque.jelen.dk/llms.txt
-->
<workout_file>
    <author>Tom Jelen</author>
    <name>VO2max HIIT 6-rep</name>
    <activitySaveName>High Torque: VO2max - 6x4min ~110% FTP @ 60-70 rpm</activitySaveName>
    <description>Extended volume progression of the Hebisz &amp; Hebisz (2024) HIIT protocol. Six 4-minute intervals at 110% FTP and 60-70 rpm, with 8 minutes easy recovery between each. 24 minutes of total VO2max work at low cadence. Seated throughout.</description>
    <sportType>bike</sportType>
    <tags />
    <workout>
        <Warmup Duration="900" PowerLow="0.40" PowerHigh="0.75">
            <textevent timeoffset="10" duration="30" message="Source: Hebisz &amp; Hebisz (2024) HIIT protocol, weeks 5-8. 6x4 min at 90-100% Pmax (~110% FTP), 60-70 rpm, 8 min recovery." />
            <textevent timeoffset="75" duration="20" message="Log this session at high-torque.jelen.dk — track your progression over the weeks" />
            <textevent timeoffset="120" duration="25" message="Volume progression from 4 to 6 reps. The study increased HIIT volume at the midpoint — this is the higher-volume phase where the strongest results emerged." />
            <textevent timeoffset="300" duration="25" message="110% FTP at 60-70rpm. Same intensity as the 4-rep version, but two extra intervals. The additional volume is where the study found its strongest results." />
            <textevent timeoffset="480" duration="25" message="Six intervals. 4 minutes each. 8-minute recovery between them. 24 minutes of total VO2max work at low cadence." />
            <textevent timeoffset="600" duration="25" message="SEATED: Every interval, every second. By intervals 5 and 6, fatigue will make standing very tempting. That is when it matters most to stay down." />
            <textevent timeoffset="720" duration="25" message="KNEE PRIORITY: Six intervals is 50% more joint stress than four. If the 4-rep version caused any knee discomfort, do that version instead." />
            <textevent timeoffset="840" message="Openers coming, then the main set." />
        </Warmup>

        <SteadyState Duration="30" Power="1.10">
            <textevent timeoffset="0" message="Opener 1 — normal cadence." />
        </SteadyState>
        <SteadyState Duration="120" Power="0.55">
            <textevent timeoffset="0" message="Easy spin. Second opener coming." />
            <textevent timeoffset="90" message="How do the legs feel? Ready? Good." />
        </SteadyState>
        <SteadyState Duration="30" Power="1.10">
            <textevent timeoffset="0" message="Opener 2." />
        </SteadyState>
        <SteadyState Duration="120" Power="0.55">
            <textevent timeoffset="0" duration="25" message="Last recovery before the main set. In ERG mode, just drop to 60-70rpm when the interval starts — the trainer holds 110% FTP automatically." />
            <textevent timeoffset="60" message="30 seconds. First interval. STAY SEATED throughout. 110% FTP." />
            <textevent timeoffset="90" duration="20" message="High-torque intervals begin now. The study used 60-70 rpm — aim for anywhere in that range." />
        </SteadyState>

        <SteadyState Duration="240" Power="1.10" Cadence="65">
            <textevent timeoffset="0" message="STAY SEATED. 60-70 rpm — aim for 65. 110% FTP. GO." />
            <textevent timeoffset="20" message="Legs AND lungs working simultaneously. This is supposed to be hard." />
            <textevent timeoffset="60" message="1 minute in. Hold cadence. Don't let it creep up." />
            <textevent timeoffset="120" message="Halfway. 2 minutes to go. Do not spin up." />
            <textevent timeoffset="180" message="Last minute. Stay seated. Hold form." />
            <textevent timeoffset="210" message="30 seconds. Do not stand." />
            <textevent timeoffset="230" message="10 seconds." />
        </SteadyState>

        <SteadyState Duration="480" Power="0.50">
            <textevent timeoffset="2" message="Recovery. 8 full minutes. Use every second. You need them more with 6 reps." />
            <textevent timeoffset="60" duration="25" message="The study's low-cadence group improved VO2max by 8.7% over 8 weeks. This higher-volume phase is where the adaptation accelerated." />
            <textevent timeoffset="180" message="Knee check in recovery. Any discomfort that feels joint-related?" />
            <textevent timeoffset="210" message="Next interval. Same: seated, 60-70rpm, 110% FTP." />
        </SteadyState>

        <SteadyState Duration="240" Power="1.10" Cadence="65">
            <textevent timeoffset="0" message="STAY SEATED. 60-70 rpm. 110% FTP. GO." />
            <textevent timeoffset="20" message="Interval 2. Legs AND lungs." />
            <textevent timeoffset="60" message="1 minute in. Hold cadence." />
            <textevent timeoffset="120" message="Halfway. 2 minutes to go. Do not spin up." />
            <textevent timeoffset="180" message="Last minute. Stay seated. Hold form." />
            <textevent timeoffset="210" message="30 seconds. Do not stand." />
            <textevent timeoffset="230" message="10 seconds." />
        </SteadyState>

        <SteadyState Duration="480" Power="0.50">
            <textevent timeoffset="2" message="Recovery. 8 minutes." />
            <textevent timeoffset="60" message="Two down, four to go." />
            <textevent timeoffset="180" message="Knee check." />
            <textevent timeoffset="210" message="Interval 3. Seated. 60-70rpm. 110% FTP." />
        </SteadyState>

        <SteadyState Duration="240" Power="1.10" Cadence="65">
            <textevent timeoffset="0" message="STAY SEATED. 60-70 rpm. 110% FTP. GO." />
            <textevent timeoffset="20" message="Interval 3. Halfway through the session." />
            <textevent timeoffset="60" message="1 minute in. You've done this twice already. Same again." />
            <textevent timeoffset="120" message="Halfway. 2 minutes. Hold cadence." />
            <textevent timeoffset="180" message="Last minute. Stay seated." />
            <textevent timeoffset="210" message="30 seconds. Do not stand." />
            <textevent timeoffset="230" message="10 seconds." />
        </SteadyState>

        <SteadyState Duration="480" Power="0.50">
            <textevent timeoffset="2" message="Recovery. Three done, three to go." />
            <textevent timeoffset="60" duration="25" message="The study used 60-70 rpm specifically for HIIT — the higher cadence combined with VO2max power is the key mechanism." />
            <textevent timeoffset="180" message="Knee check." />
            <textevent timeoffset="210" message="Interval 4. Seated. 60-70rpm. 110% FTP." />
        </SteadyState>

        <SteadyState Duration="240" Power="1.10" Cadence="65">
            <textevent timeoffset="0" message="STAY SEATED. 60-70 rpm. 110% FTP. GO." />
            <textevent timeoffset="20" message="Interval 4. Four of six." />
            <textevent timeoffset="60" message="1 minute in. The fatigue is accumulating — that is the point." />
            <textevent timeoffset="120" message="Halfway. 2 minutes. Hold cadence." />
            <textevent timeoffset="180" message="Last minute. Stay seated." />
            <textevent timeoffset="210" message="30 seconds. Do not stand." />
            <textevent timeoffset="230" message="10 seconds." />
        </SteadyState>

        <SteadyState Duration="480" Power="0.50">
            <textevent timeoffset="2" message="Recovery. Two more to go." />
            <textevent timeoffset="60" message="Four intervals done. This is where the study's volume progression adds its load." />
            <textevent timeoffset="180" message="Knee check. Final two intervals." />
            <textevent timeoffset="210" message="Interval 5. Seated. 60-70rpm. 110% FTP." />
        </SteadyState>

        <SteadyState Duration="240" Power="1.10" Cadence="65">
            <textevent timeoffset="0" message="STAY SEATED. 60-70 rpm. 110% FTP. GO." />
            <textevent timeoffset="20" message="Interval 5. Penultimate. Do not stand." />
            <textevent timeoffset="60" message="1 minute in. One more after this." />
            <textevent timeoffset="120" message="Halfway. 2 minutes. Hold cadence." />
            <textevent timeoffset="180" message="Last minute. Stay seated." />
            <textevent timeoffset="210" message="30 seconds. Do not stand." />
            <textevent timeoffset="230" message="10 seconds." />
        </SteadyState>

        <SteadyState Duration="480" Power="0.50">
            <textevent timeoffset="2" message="Recovery. Final interval next." />
            <textevent timeoffset="60" message="Five down, one to go. Knee check." />
            <textevent timeoffset="210" message="Last interval. Everything you have left. Seated. 60-70rpm. 110% FTP." />
        </SteadyState>

        <SteadyState Duration="240" Power="1.10" Cadence="65">
            <textevent timeoffset="0" message="STAY SEATED. 60-70 rpm. 110% FTP. GO. Final interval." />
            <textevent timeoffset="20" message="Last one. Do not stand. Do not spin up." />
            <textevent timeoffset="60" message="1 minute in. Almost done." />
            <textevent timeoffset="120" message="Halfway. 2 minutes. Everything now." />
            <textevent timeoffset="180" message="Last minute. Stay seated to the end." />
            <textevent timeoffset="210" message="30 seconds. Finish it." />
            <textevent timeoffset="230" message="10 seconds." />
        </SteadyState>

        <Cooldown Duration="900" PowerLow="0.50" PowerHigh="0.40">
            <textevent timeoffset="10" message="Six VO2max intervals at low cadence done. Full study volume achieved." />
            <textevent timeoffset="150" duration="25" message="You have now done the Hebisz &amp; Hebisz (2024) protocol at its highest volume. Well done." />
            <textevent timeoffset="360" duration="20" message="Allow at least one easy day before any more hard sessions." />
            <textevent timeoffset="540" message="Knee check: how do they feel post-effort? Anything that lingers should be noted." />
            <textevent timeoffset="720" duration="30" message="The study measured an 8.7% VO2max improvement in the low-cadence group — nearly double the 4.6% in the normal-cadence group. Same hours, same structure, only the cadence differed." />
        </Cooldown>
    </workout>
</workout_file>
