from Bruce Hildenbrand

Tour sprinters are an interesting lot. For the most part, they are good for only one thing and that is going fast at the finish of a race. Their teammates are charged with the task of babysitting them on the flat stages, keeping them out of the wind so that they can conserve their strength and power for the final dash to the line. If the sprinter wins, he is the one on the podium with the flowers, champagne and kisses from the pretty girls while the long-suffering support riders or domestiques are back in the team bus exhausted from being on the front of the peloton for hours on end.

Dr. Lim,

My question is about the heart rate vs. power? I’ve noticed that after a series of hard workouts that it becomes more difficult to raise heart rate in the various zones, however, power output (while difficult) is generally maintained. Is this a typical physiological response? If so, it seems counter intuitive; as I would expect heart rate to rise above various zones after a series of hard workouts. Given this situation, is heart rate a valid measurement for training (or racing)?

Thanks,
Bruce

from CycleOps Power

CycleOps Power continues to innovate its PowerTap line. In parallel with developing ANT+ Sport compatitibility, CycleOps engineers have been working on a new axel design that is as light as the original but much stiffer. Watch the video with CycleOps Power product manager Jesse Bartholomew to learn more.

from Allen Lim, PhD

Yesterday when Christian moved into third place, he and the rest of the team were happy, but no one really seemed to make a big deal out of it. It was definitely a hard day, but we were all trying to stay focused on today. In our minds, the Tourmalet and the Hautacam were going to be the real first test of the Tour. At the same time, the performance Rico put in to solo win was just incredible. So much so, that it can screw with your head as a rider, and I sensed that Christian was a bit reticent to really believe how astounding his form is right now.

from Bruce Hildenbrand

The first weekend of the Tour welcomes the big mountains of the Pyrenees. While there were a few smaller hills on the way south, the long, race-defining climbs had yet to test the cyclists. The first day in the mountains is tough for the Tour riders, especially the contenders for the yellow jersey. With all the pre-Tour responsibilities the week before the start and the usually flat route in the first week of the race, it can be 10-14 days since they have ridden up a major hill. With fitness always a prime concern, the riders just do not know how they will perform in this most crucial of the Tour's challenges.