Steve Neal joins the Svein to answer a listener question from Chris O'Leary (New Zealand) on FatMax: what it actually means, why it matters, and how to improve it.

What You'll Learn

FatMax defined: The highest fat oxidation rate with the least carbohydrate contribution — not just peak fat burning. On a metabolic cart, fat oxidation can stay flat across multiple power steps while carbs double underneath it. The precise crossover point is what matters.

Fat-carb crossover point: Two athletes can share the same FatMax wattage but have crossover points 100+ watts apart. This — not FatMax alone — determines how long and comfortably you can ride.

Target numbers for masters cyclists: FatMax at 175–200W is solid; 225W is exceptional. A healthy FatMax-to-FT ...