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For several years, the best climbers in the peloton have been tackling the sites sitting in their saddle. A position that contrasts with the usual climbs as a dancer.
A species in the process of extinction. In the professional peloton, the old -fashioned climbers are scarce. The time when we stood up on the pedals for miles in the mountain roads, in a position called “dancer”, seems to be over, while the attacks, sitting on the saddle multiply, like Tadej Pogacar on the Walloon arrow. “It is true that we see it less and less. It contrasts with the memories that we have, for example duels between Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck, who climbed an entire collar, erected on their pedals”notes the former runner Pierre Rolland.
If some irreducibles still sway on their mount when the road is built up, the peloton no longer closes his eyes on this evolution. “I go up almost all the time as a dancer, but it's true that there are quite a few who go up seated. I don't know how to explain it”, Asks Louis Barré, runner of the Intermarché-Wanty team. “”Maybe our stools are more and more comfortable? “smiles Axel Baudin (EF Education-Easypost). However, the explanations are more serious.
The first is the use of data at all costs, and in particular power sensors. “Before, we did not have live on the bicycle all the data we have today”sums up Pierre Rolland, winner of two stages on the Tour (2011 and 2012). “Power sensors give specific information that allows runners to gauge their effort, to smooth their power”adds the former runner today Consultant France Télévisions, Yoann Offero. “The first who learned this tool well was Christopher Froome (winner of the Tour in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017). We remember His attack, sitting in the Ventouxeyes riveted on his counter. ” Thanks to this data harvested in real time, runners can go up to the train, on a regular rhythm.
“To climb with as much efficiency as possible, you have to set up sitting with a good cadence. This is where we will develop more watts and we are going to go as soon as possible”explains Pierre Rolland. “Putting yourself as a dancer is more energy -consuming in energy terms, and not necessarily more effective”, he assures. Coach within the French team Cofidis, Mathieu Defontaine develops: “Sitting, the muscle transition is better on the posterior chain, so on the back of the leg, it allows more power to the pedal. In other words, the latter is more effective than a dancer.”
The Cofidis coach also explains this change of position by mechanical developments: “Braquets have evolved, we can reduce them according to the relief, so the runners need to put themselves in a dancer, especially to have more motor skills on the rear wheel. It is therefore also a question of technique”. And equipment. Because the current bikes have little to do with those of the early 2010s. “The bikes of the moment drive much faster, are much more nervous. There is no longer any need to put a big impulse on the pedal to change the rhythm, since the bike reacts much better”, Ensures Yoann Offdo“When you press the pedal, the power vector is huge today.”
These technological developments have also caused tactical changes, which explain the gradual disappearance of the dancer. “Now, in the mountains, the teammates do such work from under the upstream that the dancer becomes unnecessary, because skimming is done from the rear to the decisive attack of the leader, who no longer needs to multiply attacks as before”lights Yoann Offdo. From there to fear the outright disappearance of the dancer? “No, because it will always be used to stretch a little, and cycling evolves, who knows what the future has in store for us?”, Smiles Pierre Rolland, recalling that Tadej Pogacar put himself as a dancer in the final ramp of Rouen, to win on July 8 in the 4th stage.
