The #TDF2020 is over and @TamauPogi has won the maillot jaune. During Stage 20's TT to la Planche des Belles Filles, if we break down the performance of the top players at the time checks how did their individual rides play out?
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Primož Roglič's performance on the flat kept within 10-15w (in terms of performance, assuming identical riders) to both Pogačar and Dumoulin (a former world TT champion), as well as riding faster than Porte and Van Aert.
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On the flat the largest impact on speed is aerodynamics and power output, with tyre choice and rider weight also factors. As the road turns upwards the relative importance of aerodynamics decreases, switching instead to power/weight.
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Richie Porte closed the gap in performance to Pogačar on the climb, indicating that he was perhaps less aero for the flatter sections but was putting out enough power to make his climbing speed fast enough, once aerodynamic drag was less important.
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Van Aert had a consistent ride, indicating that he was (using Pogačar as a reference point) as good at flat time trialling speed as he was at uphill climbing speed.
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Using Pogačar as a reference point does skew this a little, as we wouldn't expect him to perfom as well in a flat TT against the pure specialists (Cavagna who isn't on the graph was also faster to the first time check), but this is in reference to the more GC focused riders.
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The conclusion? Roglič was a little slower than Pogačar on the flat, and then an additional ~25w "worse" up the climb. Given the similar equipment (road bikes) for the climb this isn't a massive explosion losing >50w, but the end result was heightened by what was at stake.
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