Can We Keep Up With A Pro Cyclist?

Pro cyclists hit speeds that we mere mortals could only dream of, with professional races averaging over 45kph! We've seen Ollie try to match a pro's descending pace, but how long can he draft a pro on the flat?

00:00 Intro
00:48 What is drafting?
01:30 Alexys Brunel: Pro Gravel Rider
02:32 Ride start
05:09 Ollie gets dropped
05:16 Post-ride analysis
07:07 Drafting power experiment

Useful Links:

How long do you think you could hold the wheel of a pro? 🚲

Let us know in the comments below 💬

Watch more on GCN...

🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Record Scratch 2 - SFX Producer
Black Satin Dress - Will Harrison
Bones - Coma Svensson
Chronic - Jobii
Granny's Basement - Stationary Sign
Hustlin Man Blues - Will Harrison
La La La La La La La La - Def Lev
Monitor Turn On - SFX Producer
National Anthem France - National Anthem Worx
Party Horn - SFX Producer

#gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #procyclist #prorace #speed #averagespeed

📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sirotti Images

The Global Cycling Network (GCN) is the largest online cycling channel in the world, bringing together a global community of road cyclists to celebrate everything that’s great about the world of cycling.

Our videos bring fans compelling daily content including expert tutorials, techniques, training, racing, cutting-edge bike tech, unparalleled behind the scenes event coverage, humour, entertainment, and more.

Presented by ex-pro riders, GCN offers a uniquely qualified insight into the world of cycling, and most importantly it’s fuelled by our passionate and enthusiastic fans – everyone who makes up the GCN community. We also bring the latest and greatest tech to your attention, showcase the best places in the world to ride and get exclusive access to events and races.

Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside Cycling

Thanks to our sponsors:

Watch our sister channels:

[gcn]

🤔 How long do you think you could hold the wheel of a pro? 🚲

[robslater]

I have a friend who rode with 7-11 years ago. He'd done the Giro. He used to joke that on the sprint stages, when the sprinters' teams started the festivities 20 or 30K out from the finish, it was so hard he used to close one eye just to try to save energy.

[whatwelearned]

Ah, we've come full circle and Ollie is getting dropped again. All is right with the world.

[jeffreywilliams]

It would have been interesting to see Alexys' data side by side with Ollie's data.

[shuycg]

Um, let's just clarify that you're much better than most road cyclists, and few uf us would have hold on for that long.

[JMcLeodKC]

Ollie is a professional cyclist. Didn’t you see the other video with him called “New Bike Day” were Pinnarello “gives” him a $10k bike? Going out on a ride with no spare tubes? You look like a pro to me dude

[AdamRussellCycling]

Ollie has truly perfected the British art of ending every sentence with a question when speaking to a non-native English speaker

[DerekGreen]

Great video 👍 Ollie is a really great presenter and for sure a strong rider (outside of true pros!)

I was thinking mid-video, it was a missed opportunity that were were not seeing BOTH sets of power/speed numbers in real time... but at least you talked about it briefly at the end.

VERY anecdotally... but from watching recent races, it seems that more solo longer range attacks are succeeding these days.
I know that you still need a rider capable of holding high power for a long time and that the psychology of the chasing pack plays a big part (G2 stuff and all that). But modern well dialled-in aero tech must surely play a strong part in slightly levelling-out Solo vs Group!

[derickcastillo]

Thank you for this video! My daughter runs the mile in track and field. She did a race the other day in which the winds were around 20mph. I was explaining to her about drafting and how it could have really helped her. She just started running competitively and she is getting better everyday. You are correct, drafting is a skill that takes time and effort to develop.

[PrinceChanning]

1:37 HE HAS A GOKU TATTOO?!

COOLEST PRO EVER

[bigunitcyling]

This video provided more insights than any wind tunnel video. You didn’t get dropped for lack of fitness. Alexie was very low you couldn’t see his helmet in the dropped cam. You created the gap on his wheel. The pros stay an inch behind the wheel even on down hills . Crazy 🤪

[AlexB-zbgd]

Former gcn presenter in French too. Good luck for the futur Alexis.
Nice performance for both of you👍

[paulgordon]

That's a hell of a load of watts!!! Well done for holding his wheel that long Ollie!!

[robertrhodes]

Wow! Respect Ollie! GCN' best rider and has been a great encouragement to me as I seek to get better as a rider. 👍🏻

[rbonn]

Exceptionally interesting. Ollie, you were doing a great job banging out watts at high speed!

[alinapopescu]

I do love your facts, Dr. Bridgewood. When I understand them.

[noelgallagher]

For those who don't know, Alexys is also a former GCN host on the french channel

[byod]

Up and down hill makes such a massive difference to the power required

[carlfrancis]

On drafting science, i still don't see much recognition of how a skilled drafter can save the lead rider energy by maintaining air pressure, or removing the suction component from behind the lead rider. I.e. the drafter does the work against the suction as the air flow fills the low pressure zone behind.

Another interesting drafting concept illustrated by CFD is how the drafting rider does not have to be directly behind the front rider but can be to the side and slightly behind. As long as the drafter rides close enough to the lead rider, the slip stream is shown to attach to the next rider at an angle of >30° to the line of travel.

I reckon I could drop Ollie at a party, with this much nerdiness😅

[benhoward]

Very interesting and a good effort Ollie! Them Pro’s are something else.