I posted this some weeks ago in the "general news thread". Since there is now a follow up, i've decided to make a new topic for it.
This guy (Bert Blocken) was in the NOS Avondetappe on Dutch national TV. Those who understand Dutch and want to see it, you can view all episodes of the Avondetappe, via "NPO Start".
https://www.npostart.nl/nos-de-avondetappe/12-07-2019/POW_04304525
It's an interesting watch. I recommend it even if you don't speak Dutch (just for the visuals). He also compared descending/downhill positions on the bike (Alaphilippe vs Froome). Ewan's sprinting position. The fact that a car/bike riding BEHIND a rider also has a positive influence on air resistance for the rider (the car effectively pushes air forward, and creates a "bubble" wich also protects the rider). And that a car/bike riding NEXT to the rider impacts the aerodynamics in a negative way (i guess unless the wind is coming from that direction).
Apparently, ASO has briefed the motorbikes (/pilots) in light of this research, to keep their distance. Other organisations have asked UCI for years, to do this research, but UCI never committed.
Red Rick said:Should be much bigger news.Logic-is-your-friend said:Belgian professor Bert Blocken from universities Leuven (Belgium) and Eindhoven (Netherlands) has done more research regarding the advantage of drafting behind motorcycles. It turns out the advantage is much bigger than expected. In perfect conditions at an average speed of 54km/u, even at 30 meters (!) still an advantage of up to 2.6 seconds per kilometer is gained! Due to 12% less resistance.
At 50 meters behind a motorcycle, the advantage is still up to 7% less resistance.
https://sporza.be/nl/2019/06/27/motoren-voordeel-renners/
Logic-is-your-friend said:Sestriere said:Perfect conditions would imply no wind at all and the cyclist following the motorbike the best possible way? Does the study also make implications about real world scenarios, i.e. cross or tail wind, changing speed and distance to the motorcycle due to undulating roads or the leading rider of the group taking the shortest possible way instead of perfectly following? It would also be interesting to know whether the results only apply to individual riders and single line groups or pelotons as well.
I can imagine the advantage being even bigger with a head wind. With cross wind, the advantage gets a lot smaller. I assume the actual study does go into that further, but the news report didn't.
This guy (Bert Blocken) was in the NOS Avondetappe on Dutch national TV. Those who understand Dutch and want to see it, you can view all episodes of the Avondetappe, via "NPO Start".
https://www.npostart.nl/nos-de-avondetappe/12-07-2019/POW_04304525
It's an interesting watch. I recommend it even if you don't speak Dutch (just for the visuals). He also compared descending/downhill positions on the bike (Alaphilippe vs Froome). Ewan's sprinting position. The fact that a car/bike riding BEHIND a rider also has a positive influence on air resistance for the rider (the car effectively pushes air forward, and creates a "bubble" wich also protects the rider). And that a car/bike riding NEXT to the rider impacts the aerodynamics in a negative way (i guess unless the wind is coming from that direction).
Apparently, ASO has briefed the motorbikes (/pilots) in light of this research, to keep their distance. Other organisations have asked UCI for years, to do this research, but UCI never committed.
















