How Do Tour De France Riders Climb So Fast?

Ever wondered how Tour de France riders conquer brutal climbs at incredible speeds? Dan breaks down the key factors, comparing his efforts to a record-setting climb by Tadej Pogacar. Discover the critical role of power-to-weight, the benefits of drafting, and optimal pacing. PLUS, the surprising biomechanical technique and the importance of precise fuelling…

⏱️ Timestamps ⏱️
0:00 – Introduction: how fast do they really climb?
0:50 – The power-to-weight ratio explained
1:17 – Drafting
1:46 – Gearing
2:11 – Pacing
2:38 – Positioning & recovery strategies
2:58 – Fuelling
3:18 – Biomechanics
4:04 – Conclusion

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How did tour to France riders climb up mountains so fast? The best pros can average 25 km per hour or 15 mph up some of the most brutal climbs in the world? Is it just that they are fitter or is there more to it? Before we get on to the reasons why they’re so fast, one of which I think is really going to surprise you, we wanted to show you exactly how fast they are. We are midway up the Kodal Lamadon in southern France. This is me riding at the power I can sustain for the entire 13 km climb which is about 280 W. And then this is me riding at the speed that threetime tour to France champion Ted Pagata was riding here when he set the record on this climb. It’s quite a big difference. [Music] The biggest determinant in climbing speed is the power you produce versus the weight of you and your equipment. The more powerful you are and or the lighter you are, the faster you will go. The best climbers in the tour front have a very high sustainable power and they don’t weigh very much either. Currently, a power to weight of almost 7 watts per kilo of body weight is needed to stick with the very best in the key mountains. They don’t do it all on their own though. Even on climbs, there will be a benefit to sheltering from the air behind teammates or other riders. For example, the record speed at the C of Galibier held by Paga is 27 km/h despite the 5 12% average gradients. At that speed, drafting is still going to offer a significant power saving versus riding into the wind yourself. To France riders will also pay close attention to their gears. Most will maintain a high cadence of over 90 revolutions per minute. This allows them to respond easier to any accelerations in a group, but more importantly, it reduces the fatigue to the muscles. The power is the same, but torque is reduced. It’s like doing more sets but with less weight in the gym. Correct pacing is another vital tool in mountains. Most amateurs will start climbs way too fast and fade later. Whereas the best tour of France riders will stay within their limits, allowing them to attack later on. They often use power meters to gauge their efforts and they know when to go fast and when to take it easy. They also have an incredible ability to recover from very hard efforts whilst still climbing. [Music] On shorter climbs, positioning going into them can make a big difference as to how fast you go up them. Start at or near the front and you’ll be able to carry your momentum from the flat. Start too far back and you might well find yourself having to slow down or even stop as the pelon tries to filter into a narrower road. Fueling strategy is a big consideration for Tour to France cyclists. They will consume up to 150 gram of carbohydrates per hour and they’ve trained their bodies to be able to absorb and use it. This allows them to produce a similar amount of power at the end of a long gruelling stage as they can when they’re fresh at the start. So those are the key points. But is there anything less obvious that to France riders are using to climb faster? Yes. Biomechanics. Some riders, including Tad Pagatcha, are now pushing their saddle further forwards and tilting it slightly down so that their knees are vertically over the pedals when they’re climbing gradients over 6%. This can be described as pre-rotating, effectively meaning that their saddle is horizontal whilst the bike is angled upwards with the gradient. The theory goes that you get a better transfer of power in that position whilst reducing pressure behind the bottom bracket. It might not work for everyone, but it’s certainly something that riders have been experimenting with in recent times. So, there you have it. The key ingredient for tour France riders to go that fast on mountains is a high sustainable power and a reasonably low weight. However, there is more that goes into it than that. Not every rider with the same power to weight ratio is able to go up to the front mountains at the same speed. Hope you’ve enjoyed this