Terrible VO2Max, any suggestions?

[J.R.]

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I've never read that HIIT is better at increasing VO2Max than steady-state training of equal difficulty. In fact, most of the cycling training methodology would seem to indicate the opposite. Perhaps you can point me to some references JR ?

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There's lots of stuff re: HIIT as opposed to moderate sustained exercise, like
this and this, but you get into equal difficulty. I dunno how to equate different forms but there is stuff about intense interval training to specifically to boost VO2 in endurance athletes like this or here
or Veronique Billat's work as discussed here. There are also all kinds of lay endurance programs that tout interval training for marathoners/swimmers etc.

As a beginner he will likely get rapid gains whatever he does. IMO Interval training (at whatever we want to call it, be it high or medium) is great for his goals but that does not mean it should be done to the exclusion of steady state endurance training.