University research on aerodynamic performances of cyclists
Photo : Bart Van Overbeke
The final of Liège-Bastogne-Liège on 28 April 2019 makes an incursion into the Sart Tilman campus of the University of Liège. The peloton thus passes near the Wind Tunnel Laboratory where researchers and engineers specifically study the aerodynamics of professional cyclists' bicycle positions in order to improve their performance.
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his research is carried out both at Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands and at the University of Liège. They are led by Bert Blocken, professor at Eindhoven University of Technology and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Thomas Andrianne, head of the Wind Tunnel Laboratory at the School of Engineering of the University of Liège. ANSYS, an American company specialized in numerical simulation software, is also involved in this research.
Chrisopher Froome's famous position on the Peyresourde downhill during the 8th stage of the 2016 Tour de France surprised commentators and the public. It attracted the particular attention of researchers and gave their research media visibility: did this atypical position offer a real gain in speed?
Professional cyclists regularly test very different positions on their bikes to go faster, be more aerodynamic, especially on downhill passes or time-trials. However, these positions are generally adopted without their real effectiveness being scientifically established. This is where the interest and novelty of the Belgian-Dutch scientific teams' research lies.
Thanks to wind tunnel tests and numerical simulations, researchers can now objectify the results. In the case of Froome, for example, they were able to determine that his position in Peyresourde was actually far from being the most aerodynamic. Indeed, after analyzing about fifteen positions in the wind tunnel, they showed that while the "Froome" position allows a 9% gain compared to the classic position on the bike, other positions adopted by professional cyclists ("Back down", "Pantani" or "Top tube safe" - see illustration) are 12 to 17% faster than the classic position. In addition, the latter positions are safer because they ensure a more even distribution of body weight over both wheels. Note that these researches deal only with the aerodynamic aspect of the positions. It does not take into account the potential of power development by the athlete in a given position.
Nowadays, these researches are still ongoing about other interesting questions related to cycling: analysis of the aerodynamic performance inside the peloton, depending on the position of the rider. Recently, the Belgian-Dutch research team shed some light on the aerodynamic performances of para-cycling: tandem cycling and hand cycling optimal positions were analysed. Novel scientific conclusions were drawn for these disciplines performed by disabled athletes. Finally, new researchs are envisaged with medical doctors and physiotherapists to include the aspects of power development and muscular recovery related to the position of interest.
Contact
Thomas ANDRIANE
Wind Tunnel Laboratory I Aerospace & Mecanical engineering I School of Engineering
University research on aerodynamic performances of cyclists
Research led by Pr Bert Blocken from Eindhoven University of Technology and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Thomas Andrianne, head of the Wind Tunnel Laboratory at the School of Engineering of the University of Liège.
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