«Behind Tadej you can feel a bit of a slipstream, but behind Remco, he's crazy… He has a body made for cycling, his aerodynamics are simply insane. I think of Skjelmose at the Amstel Gold Race or Madouas at the Olympics: it's truly torture to stay on his wheel. In Brabant he slowly “killed” Wout. While he, in turn, was recovering».
Those are strong words Benoit Cosnefroy, released on Belgian TV during the classics days. An interesting technical theme that we shot, as is, at Mattia Cattaneo, teammate of Remco Evenepoel to the Soudal-Quick Step and an athlete who has always paid close attention to aerodynamics, given his vocation as a time trialist. The two often train together: Cattaneo knows exactly what Cosnefroy was talking about.
Mattia, so is what Cosnefroy says true?
It's true, it's true… He is the ultimate expression of this high-level aerodynamic display.When you're right behind him, you wonder how he can go so fast in that position.
Yes, how does he do it?
Io I think it's mainly a question of shoulders, narrow (and with his head sunk in, ed.). When you're right behind him, you see him disappear on the bike.
Okay, but is it studied?
It's clearly studied, but it's something that comes naturally to him. Remco is really predisposed to it. For example, I have a fairly aerodynamic position, but I wouldn't be able to maintain the same posture as him.
And which?
Lying flat on the bike, with your back down, shoulders hunched and your head in the middle, elbows bent… Mother nature has really given it a lot in terms of aerodynamic impact. Not to mention that it's also small.
Mattia, we imagine that certain data are neither easy to establish nor disseminate, but if we had to give an estimate, even a rough one: how much more do you spend riding behind Remco compared to other riders?
I can't say certain numbers, otherwise they'll fire me! If one could see its CDA values in the wind tunnel one would say that it is not possible.If I had to estimate how much more he spends on his wheel, I'd say 35 to 50 watts more than another rider. Then it depends...
From what?
Speed, height of the athletes… Let me give you an example: Remco is 172 centimetres tall. Maybe a lenny martinez, the first of the “small” ones that comes to mind, uses just 15 watts more than average. I, who am taller, would already waste a lot more.
Let's take an example, staying within the Soudal-Quick Step team, let's take Vansevenant, who is 176 centimetres tall?
If you save 100 watts on his wheel, you'll save 60-50 on Remco's... maybe. Consequently, the impact is greater. And this matters a lot if there are two of you. Because if there are three or more, things change.
What do you mean? Explain it to us better…
Assuming you always stay in line, whoever is in third place gets less, and in fourth even less. Usually, the third to fifth positions are those where you spend the least, Because then the turbulence sets in. It's a bit like being behind a truck: if you're two meters behind it, it's one thing, if you're six or seven meters behind, it's another.
So if you're alone with Remco it's a big waste of energy!
Exactly, if you are small you can save yourself, but if something happens to us Jonathan Milan…it would be a real pain!
