Aerobic Capacity. Flexibility. Body Composition. Energy Systems. I Speak PE Videos. BrianMac Sports Coach. How is Bradley Wiggins different from the average man? 25 July 2012Last updated at 21:13 ET By Keith Moore BBC News The final leg of Bradley Wiggins's Tour de France victory, through the streets of Paris, seemed a relatively gentle end to a gruelling 3,497km (2,172-mile) race.
Being able to ride that distance in three weeks, including punishing mountain climbs at altitudes that would leave most people gasping for air, is beyond the reach of all but the most highly trained endurance athletes. The two main physiological differences between an elite endurance athlete like Wiggins and the average person are a bigger heart - which allows more oxygen-rich blood to be pumped to the muscles - and the muscles' capability to use that oxygen, said Loughborough University's Dr Keith Tolfrey.
Both heart size and oxygen utilisation by muscles can be improved with training. The heart is made up of four chambers. PDHPE - Technology in Sport.