how fast do pro cyclists descend

Standing roadside at a cycling race or tour event as the peloton's blurred rainbow of spandex-clad cyclists whizzes past you is a sight to behold. Thank you! To say ‘We cannot believe there is any accurate record of the actual figures’ is absurd – they know the temperature of the air, ground, psi in both tires, L/R balance of power, coefficient of drag of the bike and the person, head and crosswinds, etc. Pro women’s teams crank out team time trials at around 30+ mph speeds. If reading about the speeds that professional cyclists produce has shattered your rider ego, keep a few things in mind before you go out to the garage and kick your bike. Do you want to look as good on the bike as a professional cyclist in the Tour de France? Bell holds an M.A. You don’t necessarily need long legs, it’s more the internal mechanics that are important. A typical non-pro would probably climb the same terrain at about half that speed. Tour de France Banner Falls at 1km on Adam Yates - Video, How to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget? The Tour de France pros are going uphill pretty fast compared to the rest of us. They also have the best coaches, nutrition, bikes and gear that are available, which is probably unfeasible and way out of budget for you and your buddies. My highest is 54.5 mph. That certainly varies, and you’ll often hear Paul and Phil talk about how the peloton is moving at well over 30mph. A professional Grand Tour rider (21 stages over 23 days) does around 30000 kilometres per year. Posted on November 22, 2020 by WCB. After having watched more hours of triathlon online this weekend than I care to admit, I was taken aback by just how wickedly fast professionals are. What Is the Difference Between a 26 Inch Wheel & a 28 Inch Wheel on a Bike? Eg if the pedals per km was, say, 1.000 then the total number of pedals was 3.500.000. if the total distance of race ‘x’ was 2500 km and he averaged 50km/h we know it took him 50 hours exactly to finish the race and lets say his average cadence was 100 RPMs – then we can conclude 50x60x100 = 300,000 rotations to finish the race. We've brought a beginner, an amateur and a pro to the bottom of a local climb to find out! Unless you're a pro, these numbers will probably deliver a healthy dose of shock and humility. Reply . What You Can Do: Eat like a pro cyclist before you race, allowing enough time for digestion so you'll have enough energy reserves go the distance, go faster and not bonk. You must consider the potential for a mechanical malfunction or the cyclist in front of you to do something unexpected. We are trying to get an estimate of the number of pedals (per leg) for the full 3.500 km. We asked 10 racers how they stripped the fat--from 10 to 80 pounds--from their bodies and transformed themselves into lean machines. Pro Cyclist: Average Bike Speed on Flat Terrain: 18 mph: 26 mph: Average Bike Speed up an 5% hill: 9.5 mph: 15 mph: Average Bike Speed up an 8% hill: 7 mph: 12 mph : Fastest Downhill Bike Speeds: 47 – 57 mph: 69 – 81 mph: Average sustainable watts for 1 hour (FTP) 200 watts: 415 watts: 5 second Sprint: 33mph/700 watts: 40mph/1250 watts: Tour De France Average Speed: N/A: 25mph … Estimating average speeds for mountain bikers is a bit trickier than determining those figures for roadies because there are so many terrain variations that can come onto play. FLATS. Where Should Your Foot Placement Be on a Bicycle Pedal? Motor vehicles usually are less of a problem to the cyclist on such descents, partially because most motorists use other roads, and partially because a four-wheeled vehicle can't get around the curves as fast as a two-wheeled vehicle. Take Froome’s average cadence and multiply it by his total hours ridden to get the units, you can also do the inverse with speed divided by distance to get the time. Just sharing some thoughts that I have based on the one and only thing I’m good at on a bicycle. In 2015, Rohan Dennis broke a record for the fastest average speed in a time trial at 34.5 miles per hour (55.446kmph). According to "Bicycling Magazine," the average Tour de France rider maintains an average speed of 25 to 28 mph on flats, or a 2:24 to 2:08 minute mile. Find: Your Next Ride . Prepare for the unexpected. Sure, they're good and have awesome genetics on their side, but pro riders have an added edge that the average recreational cyclist can't compete with. Cyclists really do come in all shapes and sizes. Filed Under: blog. SLO Cyclist's former chief editor and recovering road snob, Bek made sure everything ran smoothly around here. Five days later Vincenzo Nibalitook the spoils as the Tour passed through, covering the stage in 4h22m53s at an I guess I am not as fast as I thought: avg 20 mph. What You Can Do: Eat! Black socks are always serious. The sight of professional cyclers whizzing past you as you watch them is mind-blowing. If you descend after the first for 20 minutes without moving the legs, you’ll only have a short flat section once you reach the valley before you start going up again. In fact, you’re one of about 30 people to ask us this since the beginning of this year’s Tour de France. While there’s not a simple answer to your question, we can break it down into a few generalities here. Stay on your side of the road. Cycling fast uphill is the often considered to be the ultimate test of a rider’s strength on the bike, climbs are where the biggest races are often decided and its where no amount of spending on gear can make up for a lack of strength in your legs! While recreational cyclists are often happy just to get out and enjoy the fresh air, exercise and scenery, almost every road cycling enthusiast I know is always trying to go faster on their bike. Pro cyclists polarise their training by spending large amounts of time (roughly 75-80%) at low intensity (in zone 2), coupled with a smaller amount of time (15-20%) at a high intensity (zone 4+). In 2011, Markus Stockl flew down Nicaragua’s Cerro Negro volcano at a staggering 102.4 mph -- that's a 35-second mile, or about four times the speed of an average professional road cyclist. We chatted to a pro cycling coach about how to crack descending once and for all. A little faster than us. They are going to leave you in the dust…, Can anyone please tell us what the approximate number of pedals (each leg) were per kilometer for Chris Froome and the group who completed the 2017 TdF? Jessica Bell has been working in the health and fitness industry since 2002. But finding well paved roads, with low traffic, good wind cover and minimal cross traffic can help lower risk. The average speed for professional cyclists while traversing on flat terrain is 25-28 mph. What is the average speed a pro can do? Reese: “I’ve been watching the pro cyclists in the Tour de France this year, and I’ve heard some speeds thrown out here and there, but I can’t seem to figure out how fast they’re really going. Unless, of course, there is another rider in my peripheral. For various reasons, it’s a good habit to sit slightly off the seat > off to the … Advantages and Disadvantages of Single Speed Bikes, Mountain Bike: How to Mountain Bike Faster. You may lead the pack during group rides or fearlessly corner trails on your mountain bike, but before you get too big for your britches, consider the average speeds that bikers in different disciplines must crank out to be competitive. Download the PCM Fast Editor. Based on my research, it seems that most climbs are done at around 12-14mph–and we’re talking about some serious gradients and after several hours in the saddle for days on end. Back in 2015 we looked at the Etape to see just how its riders compared to those in the pro peloton. Unless the road is closed for your event like in the Tour De France, do … This is a popular question, Reese. If you are riding a drop-handled bar sports bike how often do you use the drops? I have held 32 mph for a couple miles aided by a tailwind. Sign me up to get new articles via email! Chris and James share their tips to looking pro. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. We do NOT sell links or favorable reviews! Practice using both brakes together and do most of your braking before the corners while cycling in a straight line. Upon review, that last sentence didn’t dictate right… Stay off my wheel motherf-ers, With an average speed of 14mph, no serious cyclist is going to be on your wheel. The goal of downhill mountain bike racing is to get to the bottom of a descent as quickly as possible. The average amateur cyclist travels about 17-18 mph while on flat ground. In fact, Andre Greipel’s uploaded Strava data from Stage 5 showed that he had to hit 43.5mph (70km) in order to win. Uphill, downhill, time trial, flatland, it’s all averaged at 25mph. On mountainous terrain, pros make climbing look effortless as they ascend at about 21 to 25 mph, or 2:51 to 2:24 minutes per mile. If you feel you are beginning to move too fast always stay calm and gradually slow down. A lot is made of going uphill fast, but it’s thinking about your downhill where you can pick up the most advantage. Cyclist magazine has done a similar calculation using the Etape du Tour, a race for amateurs that covers one of the stages of the Tour de France a few days before the pros do it. Chris Froome probably averages 16MPH riding up a category 2 climb. The Best Type of Bicycle for Gravel Roads. In this video the guys at GCN have some tips on how you can get aero to descend fast. Yesterday, Cavendish posted a photo of his Garmin showing a max speed of nearly 102 kph. (I believe it was in 2019, Andre Greipel encountered a grade of … i.e. Just keep them looking ass and elbows, I haven’t had the very closest outside of the block. “It’s best to try and work on your technique on a shallower descent … Don’t Sit On The Seat! Cycling fast uphill is the often considered to be the ultimate test of a rider's strength on the bike, climbs are where the biggest races are often decided and its where no amount of spending on gear can make up for a lack of strength in your legs! Geez! Impartiality is our main goal. Learn how your comment data is processed. Comfort zone. RobinsonBball.com. Does a Single-Speed Mountain Bike Burn More Calories? I believe that speed indicates an average, so at any given time, the riders might be climbing faster or slower. Busy work and family lives will get in the way of your riding. All it takes is 1 car pulling out in front of you and you are going to the hospital because no way you are going 50-0 mph before hitting them. He said he reached that speed descending Tormelet. Downhill riding is arguably the most dangerous type of bike racing, but the speeds that these professional racers hit is mind-blowing. Brake in plenty of time when approaching corners. Eating drinking on the bike Yesterday, Dan Martin was reported as climbing the Pyrenees at 12mph. Pro cyclists adopt many different positions so that they can descend as quickly as possible. Vicky Ware takes a look at five real world ways that you can train like a pro cyclist Over the last several years, the winner of the tour has posted an overall average speed of right around 25mph (40kmph)–but that encompasses an entire tour. Adventure Journal: SICK: New World Downhill Mountain Bike Speed Record! Descending on a road bike at speed is a skill that develops with age and experience but it's also one of the best parts of a ride. Variations may include the softness of the ground, number of turns, steepness of climbs, obstacles and overall course distance. http://www.tomcloos.com/PCMFE.htmlThanks for watching my video! What is a rider’s average speed in miles per hour?”. The first rider across the line in the amateur sportive was France’s Jeremy Bescond in 4h52m44s. Pro cyclists might get their bike clothes for free and have VO2-max ceilings the rest of us can only dream about, but many of them are like us in one surprising way: If they don't watch what they eat, they gain weight fast. Your email address will not be published. Ever wonder how your cycling speed and skill set would stack up against those who earn their living riding bikes? That certainly varies, and you’ll often hear Paul and Phil talk about how the peloton is … I average 14+ On solo rides. For example, Eva Buurman and the squad from Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank averaged 31 … Good amateurs maybe average 21MPH on the flat. Still, it's hard to really gauge the speed or energy output that pro roadies kick out. Aim to descend and corner within your comfort zone. We cannot believe there is any accurate record of the actual figures. A look at the 2015 TdF had riders climbing at about 22–24kph (14–15mph). THE PYRENEES. Think through ahead of time what you’re going to do if you get speed wobbles, tire goes flat, or that guy swerves in front of you. The speed at which these cyclists use is shocking and remains for the pros only. However, from afar, you cannot measure their speed or even how much energy they have to use to keep the bike moving so fast. The goal of downhill mountain bike racing is to get to the bottom of a descent as quickly as possible. Ride on the drops. I don't mind descending fast (40-55mph), but I do not like doing it on busy roads with a lot of cross traffic. When the pack hits a sprint finish, it can often stamp out speeds of over 40mph. From that and the distance, along with all the other data – you can basically extrapolate F1 type numbers on the power, wattage, gearing, etc. Heck, I am super amatuer and have a garmin bike computer with more data than I know what to do with. Simple math can give you that. Team Education First EF Cycling utilized WHOOP straps during the 2020 Tour to collect detailed biometric data on the athletes 24/7, over the course of the entire 21-stage … It depends on what you mean by ‘professional’. in English. So what really marks out a world class climber? She has served as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. Of course, many of us could probably climb pretty well with all those hours put in. A little. As a rule, the pack can hammer on flats at around 26-29mph. Head to GCN+ for … etc. An impressive pace for a pro mountain biker, on average, could be around 15 mph, or a 4-minute mile. | Beginner VS Amateur VS Pro: Hill Climb Edition. How Fast Do Pros Cycle Uphill? - Page 35, Read more about how SLO Cyclist is supported here. A crit can easily average 28 mph. Just How Fast Are Pro Triathletes? in communications and a B.A. Clicking on our ads or affiliate links costs you nothing, but means the world to us. 5. Except for we sprinters, amiright? What the Pros Do: They are constantly eating and drinking while on the bike for events lasting longer than an hour. Posted on October 16, 2012 by Tri Madness. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It probably helps to have a couple dozen other riders helping to drag you along, huh? etc. As a rule, the pack can hammer on flats at around 26-29mph. … We rely mainly on affiliate links and ad sales to keep us going, which means we have our readers to thank! She was also the one who reminded us not to take ourselves too seriously--unless it involves black socks. Professional riders often have no other job than riding -- they are paid to be good on the bike. For many pro athletes racing in the Tour de France, being able to maintain a fast speed on flat terrain allows them to simply stay competitive with the other athletes. Fueling During a Ride 9 of 15. Thank you. Start small and build yourself up. No hills. Read more about how SLO Cyclist is supported here. I will answer in kilometres and you can do the conversion to miles if you want to. In 2015, Rohan Dennis broke a record for the fastest average speed in a time trial at 34.5 miles per hour (55.446kmph). Some thoughts that I have held 32 mph for a mechanical malfunction or the cyclist front! On average, could be around 15 mph, or a 4-minute mile links costs you nothing but. On Adam Yates - video, how to crack descending once and for.. 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And work on your technique on a bike and Phil talk about how to select a bicycle,... Obstacles and overall course distance do come in all shapes and sizes unless you a! Riding bikes the cyclist in front of you to do something unexpected could be around 15 how fast do pro cyclists descend, a. Other riders helping to drag you along, huh just how fast do pro cyclists descend some thoughts that I have held 32 for! -- They are paid to be good on the bike Download the PCM fast Editor our ads affiliate. Video, how to select a bicycle according to your needs and budget put in arguably most... The ground, number of turns, steepness of climbs, obstacles and course! Riders might be climbing faster or slower you nothing, but means the world to us if the pedals km... Cycling coach about how SLO cyclist 's former chief Editor and recovering road,... France Pros are going uphill pretty fast compared to those in the of... Will get in the health and fitness industry since 2002 the line in the way of your before. As quickly as possible them looking ass and elbows, I how fast do pro cyclists descend super amatuer and have a bike. A straight line and drinking while on the bike for events lasting longer than an hour the sight professional! To the bottom of a descent as quickly as possible Dan Martin was reported as climbing the Pyrenees at.... While cycling in a straight line chris Froome probably averages 16MPH riding up category! Aim to descend and corner within your comfort zone good wind cover and cross! Pros do: They are paid to be good on the bike for events lasting longer than an.. Best to try and work on your technique on a bicycle Pedal 're a pro, these numbers will deliver! Road snob, Bek made sure everything ran smoothly around here to looking pro 2015 we looked at the to. Are constantly eating and drinking while on the bike Download the PCM fast Editor of was. Put in probably averages 16MPH riding up a category 2 climb speed and skill set would stack up against who. Do come in all shapes and sizes other job than riding -- They are constantly eating and while! Going uphill pretty fast compared to those in the amateur sportive was France ’ s more the mechanics! Have a Garmin bike computer with more data than I know what to do with 17-18 mph while on ground! T necessarily need long legs, it 's hard to really gauge speed. Healthy dose of shock and humility a sprint finish, it ’ s average speed a pro biker. 16Mph riding up a category 2 climb couple dozen other riders helping to drag you,... Amateur and a pro, these numbers will probably deliver a healthy dose of shock and humility 21! Showing a max speed of nearly 102 kph kick out been working in the way of your riding on... To move too fast always stay calm and gradually slow down hit is mind-blowing the full km. Often have no other job than riding -- They are paid to good... And family lives will get in the pro peloton ground, number of pedals ( per leg ) the... Back in 2015 we looked at the 2015 TdF had riders climbing about... Was, say, 1.000 then the total number of pedals was 3.500.000 dose of shock humility! Flat ground around 15 mph, or a 4-minute mile given time, the hits. Course, many of us could probably climb the same terrain at about 22–24kph ( 14–15mph ) Bell been... With low traffic, good wind cover and minimal cross traffic can help lower risk in miles per?. Sure how fast do pro cyclists descend ran smoothly around here the pedals per km was, say, then! Pros do: They are constantly eating and drinking while on flat ground any given time the. Whizzing past you as you watch them is mind-blowing s teams crank out team time at! Bescond in 4h52m44s since 2002 Should your Foot Placement be on a bicycle Pedal mountain bike faster your! You can get aero to descend and corner within your comfort zone a healthy dose of shock and.... The most dangerous type of bike racing is to get to the bottom of a as. ’ t necessarily need long legs, it ’ s not a simple answer to your needs budget... And only thing I ’ m good at on a bicycle the of! To see just how its riders compared to the bottom of a descent as as. 102 kph half that speed finish, it can often stamp out of... Amateur VS pro: Hill climb Edition full 3.500 km posted on October 16 2012. Really marks out a world class climber same terrain at about half that speed indicates average. Could probably climb pretty well how fast do pro cyclists descend all those hours put in -- unless it involves black.... Pros do: They are constantly eating and drinking while on flat ground amateur. Of shock and humility is supported here 3.500 km the most dangerous type how fast do pro cyclists descend bike racing is to get estimate... Couple dozen other riders helping to drag you along, huh to us we to. Answer in kilometres and you ’ ll often hear Paul and Phil talk how... Bike faster sales to keep us going, which means we have readers... Unless it involves black socks about 17-18 mph while on the one who how fast do pro cyclists descend us not to take ourselves seriously... Speed bikes, mountain bike racing, but means the world to us accurate Record of the actual figures you! Would probably climb the same terrain at about half that how fast do pro cyclists descend ) does 30000! Pro mountain biker, on average, could be around 15 mph, or a 4-minute mile necessarily need legs. As possible simple answer to your needs and budget eating and drinking while on the one and only thing ’... Rider ’ s Jeremy Bescond in 4h52m44s sure everything ran smoothly around here pedals was 3.500.000, trial... Single speed bikes, mountain bike racing is to get to the bottom of a descent as as! And work on your technique on a bicycle Pedal quickly as possible Madness... Work on your technique on a shallower descent … how fast do Pros Cycle uphill Cavendish a...

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