The winning riders did 24.5mph (taking it as fact) on pretty much dead flat (10' per lap) course in 1974. Today we'd see ~30. Some flat as fast as 32mph, and hilly can be 28 for U23 and juniors (USA adults are slower than the U23s).
These bikes were likely 7 pounds heavier than today's winners and less aero.
Anyway, we have to figure out how they are losing 5mph to today's fast flat crits. I think the weight matters a lot, as does the aerodynamics and ...these are fighting words, but I also don't think the fitness was near what it is now.
