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Only just saw this thread today, going to just wade in...
Keeping some Vo2 work in your schedule keeps your top end switched on. You don't really need a super switched on top end unless you're in racing/going hard season but it's useful to keep you open, especially if you are doing ramp tests which largely calculate your final 1min power, which is when you'll be deep in that red Vo2 zone. So even if you're doing mainly SS or tempo training a Vo2 session (or just sort efforts tabata style) will help keep your range CV accessible.
My 2p on tabata - it's good, but research shows you have to do it consistently over time for it to make a difference, surprise surprise. I sometime throw 20sec on/10sec off x6 into a hill effort or on the rollers after a commute if I want to get a quick bit of deepness into my day.
That’s the usual model. Probs don’t need it for the 10s but some vO2 max intervals will defo help cross. I use TrainerRoad which puts in vO2 max stuff earlier than usual but the general consensus is to save it until 6 to 8 weeks out from racing. Your last couple of blocks in the program.