Professional Cycling For the Fans - Speed on sprint finishes

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puppypilgrim
07-15-09, 02:41 PM
What speeds do the sprinters maintain coming from 100m into the finish line? I'm just trying to imagine how fast they are going.

Are they in their highest gear at this point?
What gear inch would that be?
Are their legs burning and they're just peddling in spite of their pain?

Trying to gain an appreciation for that they go through.

chrisvu05
07-15-09, 02:59 PM
depends on the terrain but I would assume 45+ mph....probably pretty close to the 53x11...and of course their legs are burning...They are professionals, if their legs aren't burning in the sprint they sprint harder!
Tsuru
07-15-09, 03:02 PM
Apparently today, and it was slightly uphill, Gerald Ciolek’s Milram teammates set a pace estimated at 70 kph (43.5mph) through the final few kilometers. Cav was in the 14 sprocket today instead of his usual 11.

The peloton before the sprint averaged 27mph.

http://www.velonews.com/article/95217

superdex
07-15-09, 03:02 PM
53x11 at 120rpm is 45mph; it's safe to say in a full sprint they're closer to (or above?) 150rpm. So they go FAST.
gregf83
07-15-09, 03:28 PM
53x11 at 120rpm is 45mph; it's safe to say in a full sprint they're closer to (or above?) 150rpm. So they go FAST.You can estimate their cadence pretty well by watching the videos and on today's video I measured 7 strokes in 4.1 Secs which would be about 102RPM. Must have been uphill. I don't think they get anywhere close to 150RPM out of the saddle.
Laggard
07-15-09, 03:32 PM
Petta was sprinting a couple years back in a 53x11 at 120 rpm. Crazy.
erader
07-15-09, 03:41 PM
Petta was sprinting a couple years back in a 53x11 at 120 mph. Crazy.

no way jose :eek:.

ed rader
subframe
07-15-09, 11:26 PM
70 kph is freaking insane.