Why the Monument Winners Doesn’t Fade
In our latest podcast episode, we dive into a recent study titled “The role of cadence and torque in fatigue-related power output decline in cycling’s grand monuments”.
In the world of professional cycling, the five Monuments—Milano-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Ill Lombardia — are the ultimate tests of endurance and power. But what actually differentiates a podium finisher from someone who finishes in the top 30?
The Power of “Durability”
The study compared two groups: the Top 5 finishers and those placing between 6th and 30th. Interestingly, when looking at the riders’ physical profiles—body mass, height, and even average peak power—there was almost no difference between the two groups.
The real divergence appeared in their durability.
Minimal Drop-off: Top 5 riders only saw a 1% to 2% decline in power output from when they were “fresh” to when they were highly fatigued (after expending over 60 kJ/kg).
The Top 30 Decline: Riders finishing further back saw a more significant drop-off of 3% to 6% in their power capacity over the same period.
At the same time, the top 5 riders produced higher absolut power across every time measurement from 10 seconds up to 20 minutes - consistently from fresh to fatigued.
Cadence vs. Torque: The Great Debate
The researchers hypothesized that as riders get tired, their cadence (pedaling speed) would drop, leading to a decline in power. While previous studies on Grand Tours have suggested this, the data from these one-day Monuments told a slightly more complex story.
Torque is King: For 10-second maximal efforts, the Top 5 riders produced significantly higher torque (the force applied to the pedals) than the Top 30, both when fresh and fatigued.
The Cadence Trend: While the study couldn’t find a statistically significant difference in cadence between the two groups, the trend suggested that the ability to maintain cadence under extreme fatigue is a hallmark of elite performance.
The “Compound Score”
One metric that actually showed a significant difference was the compound score—a calculation of absolute watts multiplied by relative watts (W/kg). This suggests that the very best riders aren’t just strong in one area; they possess a unique combination of raw power and power-to-weight ratio that allows them to survive the brutal final climbs of races like the Poggio or the Muur van Geraardsbergen.
Key Takeaways for Cyclists
It’s not just about the start; it’s about the finish. The best riders are defined by how little they lose over six hours, not just how high their peak power is in the first hour.
Tactics matter. The data showed Top 30 riders often produced higher power in the “middle” of the race (50–60 kJ/kg expended), likely because they were fighting to stay in the hunt while the leaders were sheltered by teammates.
The “Mind-Blowing” Conclusion: As the hosts jokingly noted, the study confirms that the Top 5 riders are, indeed, better at cycling than the Top 30.
Listen to the full episode to hear our deep dive into the math behind torque calculations and why the “Old Lady” (Liège-Bastogne-Liège) remains one of the toughest tests in the sport