Mark Cavendish's power output
Comments
-
oldwelshman wrote:I have hit some numbers some have quoted so I will go way higher
I heard him quote once he held 1700w for last 5km of a stage so would guess his max would be 2kw but prob at end of stage about 1850W
1700 for 5 km would be impossible
http://www.ridethetrack.com/pdf/character_of_track.pdf
This journal article provides some figures for competition power output in various events. Average power output for one rider in the 4 km individual pursuit was 495 watts
1250 for 20 seconds is very different to actual peak instantaneous power and is very high for that duration, especially considering the prior effort just to get to the finish line.
To put it in perspective power output in:
A female 200 metre sprint at a world cup event (approx 11 seconds) was 1020 watts (Peak) 752 watts (average) peak speed 63.5km/hour.
A male kilo at an international competition (approx 1min 1-4seconds)1799 watts (peak) 757 watts (average) 399watts at the finish0 -
so does anyone exactly know what the max/peak wattage he can generate is?
i am shocked at the low numbers being quoted, i can get bigger numbers than that
i dont care how aero you can get but unless you can generate the power then it is meaningless.
mark cavendish is currently the best sprinter in the world, he does this by immense power, stays very aero and having a fantastic team around him - they attack at the right time and the train takes turns to "shield" him for as long as possible before he launches himself to the finish line. their positions are so well rehearsed and the team knows exactly what each ones roles are. they position themselves in such a way so that it makes attacks on them very difficult by leaving little room for potential threats to sneak past and even as the train peels off one by one they peel off on the more exposed side which can hamper threats from overtaking. their tactics are second to none which is why once he gets in the lead, the opposition often finds it impossible to get past him.0 -
You either heard wrong or were spun a very tall tale.oldwelshman wrote:I have hit some numbers some have quoted so I will go way higher
I heard him quote once he held 1700w for last 5km of a stage so would guess his max would be 2kw but prob at end of stage about 1850W0 -
sorry got it wrong. :oops:0
-
I heard it right but thought he meant 700w which would still be very high for 5k I would have thought 500w would be max for that.Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:
You either heard wrong or were spun a very tall tale.oldwelshman wrote:I have hit some numbers some have quoted so I will go way higher
I heard him quote once he held 1700w for last 5km of a stage so would guess his max would be 2kw but prob at end of stage about 1850W
Still reckon he can peak at 2.1kw though, many average riders can do up to 1400w.0 -
If his 20sec power is 1250W (which is about what I would expect) then it is likely that his 5sec power is higher than 1350W. I can guarantee that he can put over 1350W for 5 seconds when well rested. 1350W at 69Kg is less than 20W/Kg which is not particularly high especially when presuming his stated body weight is correct.Kléber wrote:I'm told it's around 1250W for 20 seconds, sometimes close to 1350W for 5 seconds. Now I'm not looking at a certified copy of the SRM file, it's only what I've been told by a team member. Make of it all what you will.
Maybe he meant kilojoules?oldwelshman wrote:I heard him quote once he held 1700w for last 5km of a stage
Yes, definately not 700W and even 500W is extremely high for 5 kilometers and I would be very surprised if cavendish could get near this figure.oldwelshman wrote:I heard it right but thought he meant 700w which would still be very high for 5k I would have thought 500w would be max for that.
Still reckon he can peak at 2.1kw though, many average riders can do up to 1400w.
On the topic of peak power 2.1 kilowatts is probably a good bit above what he can produce too, especially at the end of a race. 5 second power is a more meaningful measurement for sprinting.0 -
Well 700W is still a flight of fancy for 5km. He may occasionally touch 700W during the last 5km but not in a sustained sense.oldwelshman wrote:
I heard it right but thought he meant 700w which would still be very high for 5k I would have thought 500w would be max for that.Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:
You either heard wrong or were spun a very tall tale.oldwelshman wrote:I have hit some numbers some have quoted so I will go way higher
I heard him quote once he held 1700w for last 5km of a stage so would guess his max would be 2kw but prob at end of stage about 1850W
Still reckon he can peak at 2.1kw though, many average riders can do up to 1400w.
Bear in mind that world's best 5-min power is ~ 7.6W/kg. That's fresh, not at end of a 200km stage and anyone doing that sort of power for 5km is not going to win any sprint, you would be far too fatigued.
And there is absolutely no way Cav will do anything near 2.1kW - he is simply not large enough to produce that sort of power.
The highest known 5-sec power is ~ 24W/kg. And we are talking the track sprint/kilo specialists or perhaps the very best pro BMX starter. Cav is a road sprinter and a track enduro rider, not a sprint specialist. Such riders do not have the same brute short range power that the specialists possess.
Untrained riders can do 1400W peak.
Someone like Boardman on the other hand could do no more than ~ 800W peak.
We are born with a proportion of fast twitch fibres, not a lot you can do about that.0 -
Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:
Untrained riders can do 1400W peak.
Someone like Boardman on the other hand could do no more than ~ 800W peak.
A friend of mine (a physiologist) had a friend who tested Michael Hutchinson and had him do the Wingate test.
After it had finished, the guy apparently said to him "Right, we'll do it again, but this time can you actually sprint" and Hutchinson replied "I was sprinting!"."A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"
PTP Runner Up 20150 -
Maybe my original guess of 1850 will be close 0
-
I'd venture Cavendish's excellent accelaration also has something to do with a smooth trackie pedalling style...Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.0
-
Isn't it likely that all the figures you read about/are told are fictitious because Cav is hardly likely to give his rivals a clue to the target they need to achieve to beat him. There's probably a good degree of gamesmanship here.
GeoffOld cyclists never die; they just fit smaller chainrings ... and pedal faster0 -
Probably true but I suspect he currently has the highest output for road riders, obviously not as high as Hoy, Staff and some other explosive sprinters.Geoff_SS wrote:Isn't it likely that all the figures you read about/are told are fictitious because Cav is hardly likely to give his rivals a clue to the target they need to achieve to beat him. There's probably a good degree of gamesmanship here.
Geoff
He is also small which helps.
He is clearly the fastes and most powerful and he is the only true sprinter left after his train leads out over 3 to 4 km, he even wins when in a bunch with no leadout as he is even better with a short burst sprint.
I know he did not test the best when with BCF as they were not going to put him on the accademy so testing is not everything as he is so gutsy and determined.0 -
oldwelshman wrote:
Probably true but I suspect he currently has the highest output for road riders.Geoff_SS wrote:Isn't it likely that all the figures you read about/are told are fictitious because Cav is hardly likely to give his rivals a clue to the target they need to achieve to beat him. There's probably a good degree of gamesmanship here.
Geoff
He won't have the highest output. Other sprinters can produce more raw power. But he uses it the best. His small size and aero positioning while in full flight certainly help.
He might have the best power to weight ratio while sprinting, but not the highest overall output.0 -
i love how people are saying 'i can produce more power than that' go ride 200plus k and then id like to see you get even 800watts, he is produceing 1200watts having been on the bike for over 5 hours, exactly when he needs so, this timing and seeing when to open up the gas makes alot of difference, also his change of pace which i guess has been helped alot by track(also why i think swift will get some good results) makes a difference milan san remo showed these things perfectly0
-
1200 - 1300 for a consistent 20 second effort is very good. Remember that Cav is doing this with his unique position, guys like Greipel, Farrar, Boonen and Hushovd will be north of 1500W for a similar effort. These numbers are huge.
Remember, peak is not the same as 15-20 seconds.0 -
I can only produce around 700W ~Peak. But then again, I only have one leg. Let's see most of you beat THAT.0
-
My peaks are around 1150W, I have done >1200W when I was a bit heavier.Pokerface wrote:I can only produce around 700W ~Peak. But then again, I only have one leg. Let's see most of you beat THAT.
Before my amputation I was more like ~1400W typically, best ~1500W.
I did a roadie sprint on Sunday after a couple of solid hours in the saddle. Found myself in a bunch coming to a well known sprint point. 1145W peak, 5-sec 1119W.0 -
Alex_Simmons/RST wrote:
My peaks are around 1150W, I have done >1200W when I was a bit heavier.Pokerface wrote:I can only produce around 700W ~Peak. But then again, I only have one leg. Let's see most of you beat THAT.
Before my amputation I was more like ~1400W typically, best ~1500W.
I did a roadie sprint on Sunday after a couple of solid hours in the saddle. Found myself in a bunch coming to a well known sprint point. 1145W peak, 5-sec 1119W.
Well, obviously not YOU!!0 -
My guess of 1850w for Cav was peak not for 20secs.
Most road race sprints will be won with efforts of over 1100w.
I was in a race with a guy who used to be on here and he had srm and he recorded 1100 at Chertsey and he came 4th in a 4th cat race Hes nt a 4th now though
Alex what is your power during standing start on track.
I have no measurments for track at all and only did a couple on road when borrowed a power tap and got 1300w but pretty sure I hit higher on the track as I had beedn training and was fit then 0 -
I get similar peak power from starts, maybe a 50W less as the technique with the prosthetic limits you a little. Generally speaking, you tend to get peak power at ~ 130rpm give or take, which of course you don't get up to in the first 5-6 seconds of a track start.oldwelshman wrote:My guess of 1850w for Cav was peak not for 20secs.
Most road race sprints will be won with efforts of over 1100w.
I was in a race with a guy who used to be on here and he had srm and he recorded 1100 at Chertsey and he came 4th in a 4th cat race Hes nt a 4th now though
Alex what is your power during standing start on track.
I have no measurments for track at all and only did a couple on road when borrowed a power tap and got 1300w but pretty sure I hit higher on the track as I had beedn training and was fit then0 -
According to a hartickle in Cycle Sport, Wiggins was putting out 560 watts average in the pursuit.
:shock:0 -
another thing, poer means jack without knowing how much you weigh, 1200w would make me(i am only 62kgs) go alot faster than it would make fat bastered of off austin powers, talking power without weights is almost as pointless as talking max heart rates0
-
He has the power to light up Paris.
That's enough0 -
ozzzyosborn206 wrote:another thing, poer means jack without knowing how much you weigh, 1200w would make me(i am only 62kgs) go alot faster than it would make fat bastered of off austin powers, talking power without weights is almost as pointless as talking max heart rates
+10
