In 2022, the Tour de France hit its quickest common velocity of the fashionable period at a startling 42.03kph. It’s hardly an outlier, with data throughout Cobbled Classics, multi-day stage races and all variety of historic climbs tumbling in recent times. Cycling is turning into quicker and quicker – a problem which has provoked many important conversations round security, but additionally begs the query of why velocity has elevated, and extra importantly when that development might start to decelerate.
Well, after discovering the most recent technical, physiological and strategic improvements mooted on the world’s largest biking science convention, it’s no time quickly.
The Science & Cycling Conference is a street bike owner’s dream the place the biking world’s best brains assemble for 2 days of displays, workshops and masterclasses on both the most recent advances on the skilled circuit or inside the labs.
It takes place yearly within the week earlier than the Tour de France Grand Depart with the newest version occurring in Florence, Italy. Along with WorldTour practitioners and main lecturers, Cyclingnews was in attendance and one of many key dialogue factors was the key beneficial properties nonetheless to be made in biking velocity.
Aero revolution?
For years, aerodynamic sensors have flirted with a breakthrough, the likes of Notio – a spin-off of Argon-18 – utilized by specialists at WorldTour groups and coaches however not deemed usable sufficient for mass consumption. Companies proceed to work on a coaching instrument that, in idea, may have the identical impression on elite and beginner cyclists as energy meters. That consists of the model who’ve created fairly a buzz in current instances, UK-based Body Rocket, whose buyers embody Alex Dowsett.
The Body Rocket system contains sensors that connect to your seatpost and handlebars, plus sensor-loaded pedals that substitute your present pedals. An air-speed sensor can be included that attaches to the entrance of your bike.
In Florence, Body Rocket’s tech wizard Callum Barnes, or “Einstein”, revealed how the system could possibly be the one that would – we repeat, ‘may’ – lay the foundations for aerodynamic sensors turning into a using staple.
“We in contrast drag-force measurements carried out concurrently in a wind tunnel and the Body Rocket machine and, on common, the Body Rocket system agreed inside 2.3% of the wind-tunnel knowledge, below completely different wind speeds, yaw angles and physique positions, and reliably detects aerodynamic beneficial properties attributable to positional and gear adjustments,” Barnes defined. “As a byproduct of its design, it additionally allows monitoring of biking positions, offering worthwhile suggestions in any other case not accessible to the athlete.”
This clearly was no impartial research – we stay up for impartial research and real-life suggestions – however there’s a sense that this might – once more, may – be the one, partly as a result of it’s such a unique aero method than different efforts available on the market.
“The Body Rocket system’s basically completely different to different aero sensors because it does away with estimations i.e. measuring airspeed and energy then again calculating to search out drag,” mentioned Barnes. “Instead, it instantly measures drag by sensors on the contact factors of the bike offering a way more correct drag worth and CdA [co-efficient of drag multiplied by frontal area’. This is why the Body Rocket system is the only system where it’s possible to make direct comparisons with that measured in the wind tunnel.”
Barnes also presented a machine-learning project he’s working on. “There’s still work to be done but it’d allow for the user to know what position they are in at every moment in time and when the conditions change, or the athlete is on a different part of the course they can then be notified to change position, optimising themselves live. This shifts the focus from thinking you only have one optimal position to having numerous for different conditions and courses.”
There’s no public deadline for that project. There is for the Body Rocket system, which will be available to consumers from May of this year for £2,950.
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Turning a corner (fast)
While aerodynamics is the easiest area to imagine gains in speed, some of the most pivotal changes in overall rider speed could happen when a bike travels at its very slowest.
“How proficient you are at cornering is vital,” said Uno-X sports scientist Thomas Lagoute. “There are many turns in road races – many of them are 90° or even more – and coaches see them as potentially decisive features in a race. Even less acute turns can be important if they’re positioned before key efforts such as climbs or cobbled sectors. This is due to the accordion effect [a term in physics whereby fluctuations in the motion of a travelling body cause disruptions in the flow of elements following it] and subsequent tactical requirements to regulate the race.”
To that finish, Lagoute analysed Uno-X rider knowledge by 10 corners at Gent-Wevelgem. Via GPS and energy knowledge, Lagoute examined nook entry and exit velocity, the vitality price of recovering that misplaced velocity and the utmost energy output by the corners.
“Sharp corners have a typical ‘anatomy’,” Lagoute added. “They typically end in a discount in energy into the flip and a brief however massive energy surge popping out of the apex that’s effectively above important energy [i.e. severe intensity domain].
“For half of the riders we investigated, this surge was above their maximal 60-second energy. The accumulation of these high-intensity efforts can cut back the power to mobilise excessive energy on the decisive second of the race.”
All in all, Lagoute revealed, a “low estimate” can be that over 10% of the full vitality expended within the ‘purple zone’ is related to cornering sections. And that extra skilled riders spent much less time burning by excessive ranges of vitality throughout these sections.
What does this imply for professional riders and amateurs alike? “Ultimately, we’re speaking about acceleration – the much less velocity you lose throughout a nook, the much less you need to regain afterward,” mentioned Lagoute. “So, except for positioning – it’s higher to have a transparent technique to nook effectively – bettering cornering approach’s a should. To that finish, having a crack at disciplines like cyclo-cross can be a useful train.
“Also notice that in case you’re racing an city occasion like a criterium, there’s a tactical trade-off between dealing with extra wind on the entrance versus the acceleration prices of being out again and correcting the accordion results after a flip. This would possibly require enjoying round with to see how you are feeling in each eventualities.”
Lagoute signed off by suggesting that ‘flip evaluation’ would grow to be extra common and will take a look at detailed suggestions on downhill sections the place approach is much more necessary. “Further analysis also needs to examine the velocity and energy patterns of various riders whereas cornering (lack of velocity, smoothness of acceleration, torque/cadence),” he mentioned. “A concentrate on the physiological variables is also of curiosity; in different phrases, how lengthy does it take to recuperate from that energy spurt.”
How respiratory monitoring can enhance efficiency
Heart fee, energy output, coronary heart fee variability, sweat fee, blood glucose… Road biking in 2025 is metric insanity with, in case you select, each cell in your physique below surveillance within the hope of using stronger and longer. So, it appears considerably incongruous that the motion you’re arguably most conscious of when biking – your respiration – stays analysis-free. But that could possibly be set to vary…
Tyme Wear is a US firm that’s been round since 2014, of which a lot of that interval has been spent engaged on a wise shirt. Rounds of funding have seen the attire come to market.
How does it work? A sensor tracks respiration fee, respiration quantity and minute air flow, which it may possibly then use to find out a rider’s first (VT1) and second ventilatory thresholds (VT2) plus their VO2max.
To dig a bit deeper, VT1 is a marker of depth noticed in an athlete’s respiration at some extent the place lactate begins to build up within the blood. As the depth of using cranks up, VT1 is recognized on the level the place the respiration fee cranks up. You’ll know while you’re at VT1 as you’ll now not be able to speaking comfortably.
VT2 is when lactate is quickly stacking up within the blood and also you’re respiration closely. Now, talking is now not doable. VT2’s also referred to as the respiratory compensation threshold (RCT) and the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA).
These are generally calculated within the lab through respiration equipment to evaluate how exhausting your physique is working and, finally, create particular coaching zones for particular coaching diversifications. Which, down the road, with constant coaching will make you a quicker, stronger bike owner.
That’s all very effectively, in fact, however how legitimate are the outcomes? According to PhD researcher Giuseppe Greco of the University of Rome, extraordinarily. Greco and his group had six competent street cyclists of their early- to mid-20s, who weighed round 69kg with a VO2max of slightly below 60ml/kg/min, carry out an intermittent train check and a ramp check, which will increase energy output each minute.
The intermittent check consisted of 10 powerful 10-second bursts interspersed with 50-second bouts of restoration. Effort cranked up by 10% with every burst till they’d reached capability within the closing set. The ramp check then began from simply 20 watts with energy output growing by 30 watts per minute till the riders had reached exhaustion. Respiratory and heart-rate response was measured through each the Tyme Wear good shirt and the gold-standard respiration equipment.
What did Greco and his crew discover? That the Tyme Wear sensor proved spectacular towards the gold normal and higher than heart-rate evaluation. “It detected adjustments within the physique’s response to train higher than coronary heart fee, which is thought for experiencing a lag and is why measuring respiratory frequency is arguably a greater marker of bodily effort than coronary heart fee,” Greco defined. “Ultimately, these findings recommend that heart-rate monitoring needs to be complemented by ‘respiratory-frequency monitoring throughout biking.
Soupless and the software program revolution
Jon Iriberri is likely one of the world’s most skilled bike fitters. His palmarès goes again 26 years, 16 of which have been working with skilled groups. Currently, he’s refining the set-ups of Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert over at Team Visma Lease a Bike, however his wider intention is to assist riders of all talents excellent the artwork of pedalling.
“That’s why I’ve developed new torque profile evaluation software program that offers speedy suggestions after a coaching session or race,” the Basque defined. “It simply identifies if there’s a pedalling drawback and easy methods to amend it.”
Iriberri revealed that he liked Pioneer energy merchandise and their force-monitoring expertise, each from a coaching and bike-fitting stance. Shimano purchased Pioneer in 2020 and closed it quickly afterwards, focusing by itself expertise. That meant the disappearance of the force-vector show that many, like Iriberri, noticed as nectar in bettering a bike owner’s pedal stroke.
Now, he’s developed his personal software program to take uncooked knowledge from energy meters with a view to undertake superior analytics. These, he breaks down into a number of areas across the 360 together with most and medium torque; arch diploma (the diploma at which the toe is decrease than the heel) at 90° most torque; and stability between right- and left-hand energy.
The software program continues to be within the developmental part however, Iriberri predicted, may end in a better understanding of pedalling dynamics and a big efficiency enchancment. “We could possibly be taking a look at efficiency enhancements of 7-8% by actually specializing in pedal-stroke enhancements and the next further torque,” he mentioned.
For now, Iriberri means that the quickest approach to enhance your pedal stroke is by engaged on decrease cadence at larger intensities. “If you’re new to common using, begin at 50-55rpm cadence and cut back it. Any decrease to start with and you can have knee points,” he mentioned. “Experienced riders can experience at 30-35prm for 10mins with out bother.”
High-speed remedy
“Some persons are afraid of spiders or snakes. I’m afraid of velocity. It’s a phobia.” The phrases of the retired Thibaut Pinot on the 2013 Tour de France, the place the French hopeful had fallen behind the leaders throughout a mountain descent within the Pyrenees. Ever since a critical crash throughout his youthful years, Pinot struggled on descents.
And he’s not the one one. All of us who’ve suffered a crash, particularly downhill, know that the psychological scars can take far longer to heal than the bodily. If they heal in any respect.
How a rider recovers from such a trauma is an under-researched space, which Carol Royle of Northumberland University in England set about redressing along with her current analysis, ‘Investigating Anxiety in Highly Trained and Elite Cyclists.’ (Okay, this one isn’t essentially speed-based however, in our eyes, is extra necessary than that because it highlights a typical and barely talked about challenge.)
“We know that debilitative nervousness exists in extremely skilled and elite cyclists after crashes,” Royle mentioned. “Cyclists discovered that having a crash affected their efficiency instances and it additionally created hesitation in efficiency.”
That’s why Royle had a gaggle of high street cyclists who’d “reported intrusive pictures of crashes, which proceed within the current with the signs reaching sub-clinical stage”, endure a collection of digital EMDR remedy classes.
EMDR, or eye motion desensitisation and reprocessing remedy, is a psychological remedy that’s been discovered to cut back the signs of post-traumatic stress dysfunction. It entails recalling the traumatic incident intimately whereas making eye actions, normally by following the motion of a therapist’s finger. Other strategies might embody the therapist tapping their finger or enjoying sounds. It’s not clear precisely how EMDR works, however it’s been confirmed to assist trauma victims change the detrimental view they’ve of a traumatic expertise.
“The research’s ongoing,” Royle concluded, “however the preliminary outcomes are promising and intervention has had a ‘remedy impact’.”
Could this be one thing groups roll out sooner or later? A little bit digging found cyclists are already utilizing EMDR remedy. Former skilled bike owner Imogen Cotter was concerned in a head-on street collision with a van when out on her bike in January 2022. The accident left her with a damaged patella and a displaced fracture in her distal radius, in addition to post-traumatic stress dysfunction and nervousness. Though she retired in April 2024 citing continuous psychological trauma from the crash, she revealed on the time that she “began correctly with a therapist in February of 2024, with a kind of remedy referred to as EMDR, which helped me massively”.
The key takeaway? EMDR is actually price trying into in case you’re struggling mentally from a crash.
The harmful implications of ever-increasing velocity
Royle’s presentation reminded us that with velocity and pleasure typically comes horrendous crashes, like that eventually yr’s Tour of the Basque Country.
Crashes of that severity have stimulated debate amongst the UCI and the elite riders round bettering security. To that finish, firstly of January, Wout van Aert and Chris Froome each mentioned gearing measurement restrictions to decelerate the peloton.
“At some level, I feel we’re perhaps going to need to have the dialogue about limiting the development of expertise within the sport to accommodate for the protection side,” Froome informed La Gazzetta dello Sport. “That could possibly be one thing so simple as limiting the gears we’re utilizing.”
The UCI’s rules already function a variety of guidelines designed with security in thoughts, equivalent to making helmets necessary throughout competitors and banning the super-tuck using place, adopted by Froome throughout his heyday.
In our deep dive into how synthetic intelligence (AI) is altering the WorldTour peloton, Steven Latré, head of AI at Imec who’s working with Lotto, informed us, “I do know there’s present work taking a look at AI fashions to detect sure questions of safety alongside a parcours. There are sometimes crashes within the peloton. Of course, typically it’s right down to the behaviour of the cyclists, however typically it’s right down to the design of the route. You’ll be capable to pinpoint the doubtless harmful sections with AI.”
Time will inform what security rules the UCI will implement, however this is a matter that, fairly rightly, gained’t go away.
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