Froome’s descending position isn’t as aero as Sagan’s

Everyone who cycles for fun should do what's fun for them. And it also depends on terrain, -2% and -10% are very different kettles of fish.

But, personally, 90% of the time I'm just coasting on descents, pretty much bolt upright, actually using my torso as a wind brake into corners. I'm still faster than the vast majority of my fellow punters on the local descents, even on my mountain bike. And it provides a bit of a physical an mental break.

I think for most people who want to go fast on anything even midly serious, getting the cornering right is significantly more important and enjoyable than railling the flats. Brake, press your foot on the outside pedal, kick as you're tracking out. Not rocket science. Fun, for me. More fun than figuring out which tuck feels faster.

Well, on most days. Sometimes I just want to spin out my compact and dive (almost, but not quite on, my top tube). The former is a lot harder than most make it out be, but that's a matter for another day.  The latter surprisingly effective, as the rocket science seems to say.

Indeed, that one must have come thru as I was typing and the hamster spins the wheel of internet...

I disagree Dotti - did the Tour Of The Peaks on Sunday... 10 miles up to start with followed by Winnats Pass and the Cat and Fiddle. Plenty of 35+mph descents where there was no point pedalling as you can save your legs for the climbs!

Right got it.

Nobody should ever coast unless they're Froome or Sagan. 

Only on the internet 

My experience is the Sagan feels a lot less sketchy than the Froome as latter leaves a lot of weight over front wheel (which leaves me in fear of being catapulted over bars). I don't have courage to stick to the full Sagan when it's gets a bit twisty, which sees me having to manouevre out from underneath nose of saddle back onto saddle to adopt the Back Down or Back Horizontal position. I suspect this maneouvring causes a signficant aero loss to the point where I don't imagine there's a net benefit to me of getting down into the Sagan. 

I wouldn't recommend the position Pantani on a twisty descent, unweighting the front wheel like that will have a major effect on handling.

Also, in the back down/back horizontal, I think the pro look is to put your hands on the tops and pull your elbows in rather than holding on to the drops. Obviously not so good for braking.

I'm reading this as you being triggered by some dude with better looking legs who was outskilling you on the downhill, so you had to put power down to get past him when he was coasting.

I was doing a sportive in Spain chilling out descending somewhere near the pyrenees and some Euro tanned-shaven legged type comes past sat on the top-tube.

I couldn't resist but start pedalling and over take him sat bolt upright on the hoods, he muttered something but I didn't get it as it was in some foreign tongue.

...I normally descend in the "12% Position" not being on the saddle feels sketchy as hell to me. 

I love that so much effort has gone into studying it (not just this study but all of the others) if he used it on every descent then it might have been more of an issue, but I think the fact he only broke it out for that stage (and still won) makes it a little bit of a moot point. Also, does the rider's body size make a difference? Froome is a lot more gangly than Sagan, not sure if the positions would be more suitable for different rider types. 

The Pantani position gives more control IMHO through tighter bends/corners than the 'Froome' or the top tube safe, I use the Pantani position for when I need to really slam on the anchors as this improves weight distribution (as oft used in MTB) so back wheel braking is improved a smidge.

For going down descents I'm deffo a back down guy, it works for me even on the shopping bike down the local 1/4 mile long 6%er to tesco (37-38mph cos it's facking bumpy as near the bottom), not sure I could or even want to do the top tube safe (sic) position.

Froome could likely have adopted a slightly better position to allow him to put more power down when pedalling and sacrifice a little aero but ATEOTD it was the unexpectedness and commitment of it that did the job.

Pantani's descending was a joy to behold.

The position may not be the most aero, but I guess it's make pedalling easier compared with 'Top Tube Safe' or 'Pantani', and not as neck agony inducing as 'Back Down'.

The result is that he can probably go faster than the other option when in his position because he can keep pedalling and he can stay in the position for longer because he's not straining his neck as much.

I still don't want to try it though!

I'm sure he'll get over it.

I suspect that part of the value of Froome's descending position was psychological - it was a bonkers move that no-one expected, worked very well, and took away any notion of predictability.