Originally Posted by merlinextraligh

In my experience the answer is about 25mph average. But this really doesn't tell you much. Typical Cat 5 race: Off the gun the race accelerates to about 30mph in the first 500 yards. the race stays about 28-30mph for the first couple of laps. you're doing 32mph after turns to close gaps. This goes on for about 10 minutes. No one gets away, then all of the sudden when you think you're going to die, the race suddenly slows to 17 mph. It then goes along for a lap at 17 mph. Then some one, who has no prayer of ever staying away jumps off the front accelrating up to 30 or so, Then 10 guys individually try to run the first guy down with no one working together and the whole peloton is shattered all over the road. eventually 10-15 guys group up, and work together at 25 or so for a while. (by the way the guy who attacked is now caught and off the back and abndons next lap.) Then the group slows back to 15 or so, before the last lap, at which time all hell brakes lose again. so the 25 mph average doesn't tell you much.