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TECH NEWS

How powerful is a Tour de France rider?

Check out the SRM power readings of Cofids’ Daniel Navarro, who finished mid-table in yesterday’s stage, and see how you shape up

There has been a lot of talk in this year’s Tour de France about Chris Froome’s power data and its acquisition, but other riders have willingly published their own data from this year’s race, including Cofidis’ Daniel Navarro.

SRM provides the power measurement for more pro cycling teams than any other brand and it sometimes posts riders’ power graphs online during big races.

Daniel Navarro got into the break on yesterday’s stage from Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille.

It was a 194km (121 miles) route taking in the Category 2 Col de Portet d’Aspet (4.3km at 9.7% to 1,069m), the Category 1 Col de la Core (14.1km at 5.7% to 1,395m) and Port de Lers (12.9km at 6% to 1,417m), and finishing on the Hors Categorie Plateau de Beille (15.8km at 7.9% to 1,780m).

The break got well clear of the peloton – over 10mins – before breaking up. Katusha’s Joaquim Rodriguez eventually won – his second stage win of the race – with Navarro finishing 21:46mins back in 63rd place.

175 riders completed the stage, the slowest being 37:33mins behind the stage winner, so Navarro’s was a respectable mid-table finish.

So, what sort of power do you need to put out in order to achieve a fairly average finish on a stage of the Tour de France?

Well, Navarro’s average power over the entire stage was 247 watts (no, the graph isn't easy to read; you'll have to take our word for it).

If you use a power meter regularly you’ll often see figures higher than that, but you need to bear a couple of things in mind. First, Navarro was riding for over 6hrs. Second, he weighs 60kg (132lb, or 9st 6lb), and that’s a hugely important factor, especially on a mountain stage.

Those figures means he produced well over 4 watts per kg over the whole of the stage. And that was only good enough to get him 63rd place!

At the start of the Col de la Core, Navarro actually produced an average of 371 watts over 4mins (graph below, the green line is power but, again, you'll have to trust us on the figures). That’s 6.18 watts per kg halfway into a 6hr ride.

So, now you can work out what sort of wattage you need to produce for your bodyweight in order to get yourself a mid-level finish. Better slide that cake to one side and get training, then!

For more info go to www.srm.de.

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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10 comments

Avatar
vonhelmet | 9 years ago
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He didn't limit his complaint to just sport... It sounds like he'd have none of us competing over anything..:

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crikey | 9 years ago
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Quote:

One human comparing itself with another is completely pointless

So all competitive sport is pointless?

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Airzound replied to crikey | 9 years ago
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crikey wrote:
Quote:

One human comparing itself with another is completely pointless

So all competitive sport is pointless?

Looks like it.

Avatar
daddyELVIS replied to crikey | 9 years ago
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crikey wrote:
Quote:

One human comparing itself with another is completely pointless

So all competitive sport is pointless?

To be fair, a lot of top sports people and teams (including Sky) operate to a philosophy of doing everything that you can do to the absolute best of your ability, stick to the plan, don't worry what others are doing.

A bit like when there's an attack on a mountain and Sky don't seem to react but instead keep churning the steady watts that eventually pulls them back to the attacker and past - so you're right, it kills sport as a competition, haha!

Avatar
Beaufort | 9 years ago
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One human comparing itself with another is completely pointless. Just do all you can, thats all you can do.

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CXR94Di2 replied to Beaufort | 9 years ago
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Beaufort wrote:

One human comparing itself with another is completely pointless. Just do all you can, thats all you can do.

Watts/Kg is a good compare tool. It caters for all shapes and sizes. Being a bigger guy I have loads of power, then factor weight and my results are mediocre compared to good club or pro cyclist. You can then hopefully appreciate the work needed to become a top rider.

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mikecassie | 9 years ago
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I did a FTP test today, the weather was rubbish up here... I got a FTP of 202W and I'm 61kgs. Not terrible, but not even close to the pros.
I could lose a couple kgs but then I'd be taking everything too seriously at that point for no real world gain for me at the moment. But if Brailsford comes knocking I would consider adjusting my diet to suit  3

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WolfieSmith | 9 years ago
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As he's 4.5 stone lighter than me and probably 17 years or so younger I aren't going to be troubling him either!

I have a local mate who rides with Madison Genesis and avoid him on rides as I don't want to waste his training time. I did travel back with him from a ride back in May. I'm no slouch on the chainy but I was hanging on for grim death while he was chatting away in front of me, riding in the little ring and moaning about just getting over his cold...

I could have been a contender! Hmmmm. Perhaps not.

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CXR94Di2 | 9 years ago
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I thought my 3.3w/kg over an hour was good  1

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Matt_S replied to CXR94Di2 | 9 years ago
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CXR94Di2 wrote:

I thought my 3.3w/kg over an hour was good  1

Maybe for the last hour of RAAM.  3

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