World Cup 2026

[Pblakeney]

In a similar way the Nepalese Sherpa can manage at high altitudes much better than anyone else because their bodies have genetically adapted.

I've always wondered what they think of all those western mountaineers thinking they've done something wonderful.
While the Nepalese are saying "It's just another Tuesday at work."

 

[First Aspect]

TBF, high altitude is considered above 2500m, so the Mexico City stadium is technically not affected by the issues we have been discussing.

Yeah good luck with that in reality. I was taught a week per 1000m to adjust to altitude. They will definitely feel it.

I'm sort of surprised none of the teams have based their camp somewhere like Denver.

(Actually, Bosnia based themselves in Utah)

 

[bobzmyunkle]

So 2500 metres is high altitude.
I've cycled the Cime de la Bonette 2,860 m without any apparent problem.
Mount Teide is 3,718 metres. I was having trouble breathing.
Mexico City 2240m. Shouldn't be a problem.
Sample size = 1.

Clarification - Mount Teide wasn't cycling.

 

[First Aspect]

So 2500 metres is high altitude.
I've cycled the Cime de la Bonette 2,860 m without any apparent problem.
Mount Teide is 3,718 metres. I was having trouble breathing.
Mexico City 2240m. Shouldn't be a problem.
Sample size = 1.

Clarification - Mount Teide wasn't cycling.

Unless you were cycling with a version of yourself who has acclimatized, its not easy to tell is it.

 

[bobzmyunkle]

Unless you were cycling with a version of yourself who has acclimatized, its not easy to tell is it.

And that will be the problem against Mexico.
Are England crap because of the altitude or are they just not the team we remember from 66?

 

[Pblakeney]

So 2500 metres is high altitude.
I've cycled the Cime de la Bonette 2,860 m without any apparent problem.
Mount Teide is 3,718 metres. I was having trouble breathing.
Mexico City 2240m. Shouldn't be a problem.
Sample size = 1.

Clarification - Mount Teide wasn't cycling.

I've cycled over a few cols that are well over 2000m and never noticed any difference.
Then again, I go so slow that a 25% drop in speed is negligible. 😂🤪

 

[Dorset Boy]

Cime de la Bonette road tops out at 2805 m, not 2860 m btw.

As I said, some people aren't affected, others are.
Wasn't it Nibali that struggled as soon as they went over 2000 m?

 

[C R]

Cime de la Bonette road tops out at 2805 m, not 2860 m btw.

As I said, some people aren't affected, others are.
Wasn't it Nibali that struggled as soon as they went over 2000 m?

According to the wiki page for altitude sickness, 20% of the population will suffer altitude sickness about 2500m, 40% above 3500m, so a lot of people would be ok above 2500m.

 

[AndyRM]

Jeezo.

Comparing cycling to football is one of the wildest stretches ever.

Not that it matters really, if England are anywhere near as pish as they were against DR Congo, they'll be humped anyway, regardless of altitude.

 

[Pblakeney]

According to the wiki page for altitude sickness, 20% of the population will suffer altitude sickness about 2500m, 40% above 3500m, so a lot of people would be ok above 2500m.

Just a point of order. In the context of this discussion altitude sickness is off topic. We are discussing athletic performance, or the loss thereof.
Too many variable too. Random anecdotal, I felt no difference while cycling (as above) but I struggled with breathing walking up stairs. Strange.

 

[First Aspect]

There's a difference between altitude sickness and a reduction in aerobic capacity. The articles I'm reading and hearing suggest we should expect England to make about 30% fewer sprints. (Which I accept we might not notice.)

I think this is where "the squad" will be important, but regardless I think Mexico will win, because our defence will carry on playing like they only just met.

 

[AndyRM]

There's a difference between altitude sickness and a reduction in aerobic capacity. The articles I'm reading and hearing suggest we should expect England to make about 30% fewer sprints. (Which I accept we might not notice.)

I think this is where "the squad" will be important, but regardless I think Mexico will win, because our defence will carry on playing like they only just met.

The ever present Pickford doesn't help your defence.

I'm the same height as him, but he has the wingspan of a gnat (or as I put it to a similarly dark humoured friend, a thalidomide baby).

Trafford is hopefully next in line for youse. There was a time when I figured Pope would usurp Pickford but after he knackered his shoulder and became scared of diving that was pretty much him done.

 

[First Aspect]

Pickford is weak diving to the right, and on account of there being only left, right and straight on to chose from, some of the world's top strikers have figured that out.

He also has the capacity to be totally dominant and clear in communicating with his defenders, but standing not quite in the right spot so they end up being stretched and leaving space.

On the plus side his distribution is fairly good and he's pretty good at dealing with the aerial threat thelat most of the top teams don't pose.

 

[BoldonLad]

Jeezo.

Comparing cycling to football is one of the wildest stretches ever.

Not that it matters really, if England are anywhere near as pish as they were against DR Congo, they'll be humped anyway, regardless of altitude.

I do like an impartial opinion 😂

 

[spen666]

And that will be the problem against Mexico.
Are England crap because of the altitude or are they just not the team we remember from 66?

England are definitely not the team "we" remember from 1966. Only 1 of that team is even alive