It's a familiar scene during Real Madrid's pre-season: the day when Antonio Pintus, dubbed "the devil" by his own players, puts them through an intense physical test that gains attention due to the large masks worn by Ancelotti’s squad. Raúl Notario, a physical trainer and sports director at Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio (UAX) and the UAX Rafa Nadal School of Sport, clarifies that these masks are not hypoxia masks for simulating high-altitude training, as some might believe. Instead, "the Real Madrid players undergo a stress test with a portable device," explains Notario in a phone conversation with AS.

The test is a typical stress test designed to measure maximum oxygen capacity (VO2 max) using a portable system. The bulky masks are used to evaluate the players' respiratory capacity through an electrocardiogram and gas analysis, such as the carbon dioxide they exhale. The masks used by Real Madrid are Cosmed V5 models, each costing around 30,000 euros, including the software. The setup includes the mask, secured with straps at the back of the neck, and a small backpack that houses the device, which weighs less than half a kilo. This device collects data via a small antenna and transmits it to a computer or tablet in real-time through Bluetooth.

Although cumbersome, the mask provides essential data that helps Pintus plan and monitor the players' physical work throughout the season. "Pintus pushes them to the limit, but thanks to this test, he knows just how far he can push the players," says Notario. This exceptional test is typically repeated only once more during the mid-season to fine-tune the training loads.

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