All top cyclists have excellent key physical attributes. Armstrong is no exception, although in one way, he may be unusually good even for an elite athlete. He is near the top but not at the top aerobically, having a
VO2 Max of 83.8 mL/kg/min — much higher than the average person (40-50) but not as high as that of some other elite cyclists, such as
Miguel Indurain (88.0, although reports exist that Indurain tested at 92-94) or
Greg LeMond (92.5). His heart is 30 percent larger than average, but an enlarged heart is common for athletes as well. He has a resting heart rate of 32-34 bpm with a max heart rate at 201 bpm. Armstrong's most unusual attribute may be his low lactate levels: even with intense training, while the levels of most other racers range from 12 μL/Kg to as much as 20 μL/Kg, Armstrong doesn't go above a 6 μL/Kg. The result is that less lactic acid accumulates in Armstrong's system, so he likely feels less physical fatigue from severe efforts and/or he is able to sustain the same effort as other elite racers with less fatigue and faster recovery times. Some theorize that his high pedaling cadence is designed to take advantage of this, while others — like
Jan Ullrich — rely on their anaerobic capacity more, pushing a larger gear at a lower rate. Further improvements in Armstrong's physical attributes and performance have been attributed to training induced increases in his muscular efficiency indicating changes in muscle mysosin type
[4].
for alleged doping. 
And what he has done for cancer patients and their families makes him a great "Champion" in my book. 
