In this week’s GCN Show, we dive into the age-old debate of strength versus power and ask: are professional cyclists actually “weak” in the traditional sense? We take a look at the latest pro power data from the Giro d’Italia and explore why more riders are now incorporating heavy gym work into their training. Plus, we cover the latest headlines including SRAM’s legal victory against the UCI over gear ratios, a 93-year-old tackling Unbound 200, and an auction for Albert Einstein’s bike saddle!
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Chapters: ⏱️
00:00 – Welcome to the GCN Show
01:31 – Pro Power Data from the Giro
02:27 – Are Pro Cyclists Weak? (Power vs. Strength)
04:50 – The Rise of the “Gym Bro” Cyclist
07:58 – Our Final Verdict on Strength
11:46 – 93-Year-Old Fred Schmid’s Unbound Attempt
15:14 – Tech News – Einstein’s Saddle
17:45 – Hunt Wheels
19:19 – Hack or Bodge of the Week
25:34 – Caption Competition
28:04 – Comments of the Week
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Do you think heavy gym work is essential for every cyclist, or is time better spent simply riding your bike more? Let us know your thoughts on the strength vs. power debate in the comments below! 👇
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38 Comments
Do you think heavy gym work is essential for every cyclist, or is time better spent simply riding your bike more? Let us know your thoughts on the strength vs. power debate in the comments below! 👇
Win a Cyclowax Performance Wax Kit and Limited Edition GCN Race Wax!
👉 https://gcn.eu/GCNCyclowaxCompetition
"Your infilled bidon". Aero gains
If they pick i6 up as a souvenir they should know it was used by a rider who utilized the way he needed to and they should wash it period.
This just in: GCN reporters have discovered Functional Fitness
No nugget 🙁 still got to the end.
As a long time bicycle commuter I say if you can do it, do it. It's not just good for your physical health, it's also very beneficial to your mental health.
hunt wheels 2k brilliant ill have sets … not really thats more than my current bike
Simples , most cyclists strong lower body & weak upper body
heavy gym work no, just do some body weight exercise and work in the garden
GCN = Gym Cycling Network
smug …… but youz dont do `proper` work ! 😉
Is that the champaign from Manon's last show???
Caption: It is always the smaller riders that tend to be the king of the mountain
Back in the days of a 42/21 being your lowest gear, racing cyclists often did some upper body exercises. You needed it to climb steep hills out of the saddle. That's hard to do with pencil arms. After the skeletal physiques of the Froome era, enabled by nearly unlimited gearing, it seems that the pendelum is swinging back. Both Vingegaard and Pogacar seem to have put on muscle mass this year.
ollie is on the wrong side of the desk
Ollies hair always amazes me
I didn't have the mention of x-ray crystallography on my GCN bingo card.
Caption competition: “what the heck,I asked for tart cherry juice”
I’m 3 years now into going to the gym regularly because I wanted to build some muscle before I turned 40. Not sure if there’s been much benefit on the bike, but on the upside my wife says I now look ‘more impressive’ and ‘less comical’ in my bibs! 😅
Caption competition: Moments later, the fire brigade had to remove a drunken Jonas Vingegaard's head from his "new aero helmet".
Ollie would have won! 😂
We need a new Cipollini…
Yes.
Best comment for a while. "What's the point of a non re-useable quick link?"
Funny how the systemic problems and natural outcomes of those problems always end up blamed on the latest random war on the other side of the world.
Ganna recieving doctorate degree and Ollie turning into a jock is an ultimate Uno reverse card.
I got into strength training a few years ago, in my mid to late 30s, mainly to avoid back pain and injury. Started with machines, then free weights and now I'm doing mosty body weight training. It was a total game changer for me. It probably improved almost every facet of my life. I also stopped drinking, but that was definitely related, since nothing kills gains like alcohol. Last year I got back into cycling and it helped me to improve fast. I am way stronger at 15s sprints than in every other aspect though. After not even a year of cycling my FTP is at around 230w now.
Hahahaha – thanks guys for the shout out and Alan not know what "yum" means LOL. Dan – I am just like you – I don't do group rides anymore because I'm never sure how I am going to want to ride from day-to-day. I don't want to hold others back or outpace them (sure – like that would happen!). I prefer to ride with my husband or alone. That way I can set my own speed and what I want to do for the day. I find myself going out more and more without a clue as to where I am going to go. And I love that!
As for the gym work – I got into it because some other YouTubers (Sid & Macky) coach got them to do gym work and it's really made a difference in their pro rides (Mt Bikers). It's been interesting to see how it has helped them in everything from speed to endurance and climbing!
As weak as kittens. Huge powerful legs to power along, good engine, aka heart and lungs but arms and upper body like a praying mantis😂
I went from a Cat one rider to competing in Mens Physique and classic physique bodybuilding. It took me five years to transform my physique.
2010- 2015
Cycling most certainly made my mind strong for bodybuilding.
2015- 2022
Ten shows, four national titles,one European title later.
2026
I am back cycling and super strong,and finding cycling easy.
I loved the moment when the the PhD organic chemist aka Dr. Bridgewood easily pushed his nose deep into that peedon to smell that unknown liquid in that bottle. 😀 I don't even dare to smell my own bottles with only water leftovers in it after a few hot days…
Coming from college football which required a lot of weight lifting. After getting dropped by my cyclist friends i stopped lifting to improve my aerobic. Maybe for amateurs its not the best to hit gym in the beginning as i believe it would hold you back reacing your potential especially newbie gains
I hope along with the weights you are increasing your food intake otherwise you are wasting your time.
I recall Matt Stephens saying he did weights so ‘he could look like a human being’ or something like that.
Just one more for the road
25:51 that bottle still has champagne from Manon’s goodbye!
I don't want to be a pro cyclist. I want a sturdy and resilient body with a strong heart after 40. Strength training and cycling is the magic mix for longevity into your golden years.
Caption competition: A drunken Jonas Vingegaard is disappointed to learn that leading the tifosi in a rousing rendition of "YMCA" is more than a one hand job.