Sitting on the wheel on Mountain Stages

[MartinGT]

When the GC riders are sitting on each others wheels on the mountain stages when going up the climbs, is it more of a 'protecting their position' i.e to counteract attacks rather than a drafting point of view?

 

[Afrank]

I'd say its probably to keep on eye on the other gc contendors (stay behind them so they can't see how your doing or know when you will attack). And because staying on another riders wheel is what their used to doing so they naturally do it even when they don't get any benefit from it.

 

[Kiara is a rational girl]

Even at lower speeds there's an aerodynamic benefit. Of course, they could be doing it unthinkingly, as a force of habit....

 

[Arnout]

As long as the speed is above some 15-20 km/h you benefit from being wind-protected, and often there is a lot of wind on those mountain passes.

On the really steep ramps it doesn't serve any other purpose than a tactical one.

 

[maltiv]

When the GC riders are sitting on each others wheels on the mountain stages when going up the climbs, is it more of a 'protecting their position' i.e to counteract attacks rather than a drafting point of view?

Depends on the gradient of the climb, but as long as you go 25 km/h or faster there's still a pretty significant drafting effect. Even on low speeds the difference is noticeable, particularly amongst pro cyclists where the differences between them are so small - having to use only 5% less energy due to drafting could make all the difference in the end.

 

[dolophonic]

because staying out of the wind is a good idea.
As others have said there are still some benefits from the draft plus big benefits if there is a headwind.
If there is no headwind you will riders in more of an echelon.
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[MartinGT]

Thanks.

I was thinking over the weekend about it after watching this years MTB WC in SA.

The question arose when one of the commentators asked about drafting. There were the lead guys on a flat part and they must of been going at 30km/h and they said drafting wasnt like road biking as it wasnt a fast enough speed.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Thanks.

I was thinking over the weekend about it after watching this years MTB WC in SA.

The question arose when one of the commentators asked about drafting. There were the lead guys on a flat part and they must of been going at 30km/h and they said drafting wasnt like road biking as it wasnt a fast enough speed.

The brief start/finish section in a mountain bike race you'll see it because everyone in a group across the start/finish are just looking to keep a pace such that no one has the chance to latch on the back.

Drafting around start/finish won't make or break your XCO race regardless of where you are in line because the climbs/descents are the strategic features. Neither will you see a killer attack across start/finish. The attacking is up or down the hills.

They aren't realistically saving quantifiable amounts of energy as one would drafting over hours of climbing in road racing.

 

[Master50]

I don't know about anyone else but I am a bad climber but I can often climb a bit better if I can get pace from a better or equal climber. I don't think it is the drafting so much as the Psychological effect of keeping up. As long as I can keep in contact I can keep up the intensity.
What I wonder about is how often is a team leader dropped by the guy who is riding the tempo?
So a lieutenant is there to set a pace that is high enough to keep everyone uncomfortable without snapping or sapping the strength of his leader. He is there to shred the non climbers off yet keep the pace high enough to discourage attacks. The leader then can just ride relaxed and watch his adversaries at a steady pace. No one is getting a free ride as gravity is not diminished behind another rider. Too bad we couldn't get a bit of anti gravity going here. Actually the physicists can prove that if you are at the back of a group that the group does exert a small gravitational force. Try and compensate for that. Anti gravitation bearings?

 

[Caruut]

I don't know about anyone else but I am a bad climber but I can often climb a bit better if I can get pace from a better or equal climber. I don't think it is the drafting so much as the Psychological effect of keeping up. As long as I can keep in contact I can keep up the intensity.
What I wonder about is how often is a team leader dropped by the guy who is riding the tempo?
So a lieutenant is there to set a pace that is high enough to keep everyone uncomfortable without snapping or sapping the strength of his leader. He is there to shred the non climbers off yet keep the pace high enough to discourage attacks. The leader then can just ride relaxed and watch his adversaries at a steady pace. No one is getting a free ride as gravity is not diminished behind another rider. Too bad we couldn't get a bit of anti gravity going here. Actually the physicists can prove that if you are at the back of a group that the group does exert a small gravitational force. Try and compensate for that. Anti gravitation bearings?

The lieutenant can also cover attacks, if need be.

 

[usedtobefast]

as a skinny climber, who could tt and sprint well enough, i always think conserving energy is a good idea. so sitting on takes less energy, but turn about is fair play, so sometimes you need to do some work as well. it allows you to see how you are feeling, in relation to others.

 

[Martin318is]

There is also a supposed Psychological benefit to following someone else up a mountain (if they are riding in a manner that suits you and at the right pace for you). This is why team mates will wait for someone on a mountain and then ride in front of them. It allows the 'protected' rider to focus on the cassette of the rider in front and shut the world out a bit which helps with pushing your limits. It also helps you to not get suckered into slowing down on pitch changes and then staying slow when the road flattens out.