The Science of Cycling's Long-Range Attacks: Unlocking the Secrets of Success
In a stunning display of power and strategy, Tadej Pogačar dominated the 2025 European Road Championships with a blistering attack 75km from the finish line, securing the gold medal. This wasn't an isolated incident; Pogačar, often hailed as the greatest rider of his generation, has consistently showcased his prowess in long-range attacks. But he's not alone in this daring tactic. Riders like Alessandro Covi, Bob Jungels, and Ben Healy have also left their mark with solo attacks spanning over 50km. The question arises: what's behind these successful breaks?
The Rise of the Lone Assassin
It seems the era of sprint trains has given way to the lone wolf strategy. But what's driving this shift? Cyclingnews delves into the science behind these attacks, starting with insights from Charly Wegelius, head sports director at EF Education-EasyPost.
Experienced Insights: Pacing and Power
Charly Wegelius, a seasoned professional with over a decade of racing experience, sheds light on the role of power data in today's success rates. He debunks the notion that power meters alone are responsible for improved pacing, emphasizing the skill required to manage one's pace over varying terrain. It's not just about maintaining an average power output; it's about knowing when to push and when to recover.
Race Radios and Psychology
When asked about the impact of race radios on long-range moves, Wegelius points out that radios have been a part of cycling for over 20 years. He argues that while they may not have a significant effect on racing style, their absence can lead to more negative racing, favoring the peloton as riders push harder without information.
Course Designs and Strategy
On the influence of course designs, Wegelius suggests that punchier finales and more technical terrain can encourage earlier attacks. A well-placed climb, for instance, can force the peloton to slow down, creating opportunities for breakaways.
The Key to Success: Aerodynamics and Fuelling
Wegelius highlights the improved athletic level of riders and their enhanced aerodynamics and fueling strategies as key factors. This combination makes high speeds over long periods more sustainable, narrowing the gap between the peloton and breakaway riders.
The Aerodynamic Advantage
Enter Bert Blocken, a professor of mechanical engineering specializing in aerodynamics. Blocken's expertise in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has made him a sought-after figure in the world of cycling performance. He explains that around 90% of the total resistance faced by a breakaway rider comes from air resistance. Modern riders, with their advanced skinsuits and helmets, reduce air resistance by about 3%, resulting in an aerodynamic benefit of around 2.7% for the breakaway rider.
However, the lead chaser behind experiences a lower aerodynamic benefit due to reduced air resistance, with a savings of only 2.295%. This highlights the significance of aerodynamic gear when riding alone, as the benefit is more pronounced.
Chasing Formations and Strategies
Blocken's research also delves into the most efficient chasing formations. For a group of three, an inverted triangle formation provides a drag reduction of 39% for the protected rider. For four-rider groups, a diamond formation offers the most substantial shield, with a drag reduction of 38%. Interestingly, all riders in this formation experience less drag than a single rider.
For five-cyclist chase packs, a two-by-two formation in front of the protected rider reduces drag to 24%, which is 20% below the best position in a single paceline.
Fatigue-Busting Fuelling
Nutrition plays a crucial role in the success of breakaways. Elite riders, like Pogačar, have mastered high-carbohydrate feeding without gastric issues. Pogačar revealed that he can now consume up to 120g of carbohydrates per hour, a significant increase from the past.
This higher feeding strategy is about resistance to fatigue rather than boosting speed. It's a critical advantage for riders in breakaways, as they can sustain their efforts for longer periods.
Performance Modelling and Timing
Blocken suspects that performance modelling is another reason for the success of breakaways. Teams like Ineos Grenadiers and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have likely taken note of research suggesting that the most effective breakaways are launched just before speeds are naturally reduced, often at the foot of a long climb.
Climbing sections provide fertile ground for attackers as the aerodynamic advantage of the peloton is reduced, making it harder for the bunch to draft and catch up. Timing is crucial; an early attack on a steep or long climb can still be optimal, even if the peloton has the strength to close the gap later.
The Future of Breakaway Modelling
As teams employ more data scientists and performance engineers, breakaway modelling will become increasingly refined and specific. Blocken envisions customized skinsuits based on modelling that optimizes time and energy savings in the peloton, followed by strategic breakaways.
The Inevitable Evolution
Charly Wegelius emphasizes that change and evolution are constants in cycling. The science behind cycling's long-range attacks continues to evolve, with improved aerodynamics, smarter fuelling, and advanced performance modelling playing integral roles. The question remains: what's next on the horizon for these daring riders?
