Tour de France 2024 - 15th stage: Loudenvielle - Plateau de Beille | 197.7 kilometres
The rollers will be whirring before the 15th stage, as the riders will want to warm up before the cold start: the Col de Peyresourde is right at the start. It is to be expected that climbing specialists will immediately set off on the run over the day's total of 4800 metres in altitude, spread over six summits.
The toughest and longest climb comes at the end: the climb to the Plateau de Beille is 1246 metres in altitude. This is where it will probably be decided whether the breakaway riders make it through or whether the classification riders win the stage.
Until then, however, you have to invest a lot of energy. If you spend this day on the run, you have to eat, eat and eat again. The energy turnover will be over 6000 kcal. However, only around 2500 kcal can be supplied and utilised on the way. The rest has to be provided by well-filled glycogen stores and the fat burning that can be utilised in the valleys.
The simulation of the day revolves around the question of whether a breakaway climber should choose a bike that is as light as possible at all costs for the epic ride over five mountains and through three valleys, or whether aerodynamics also have a say on such a long escape.
As a regular reader of the Tech Briefing, what do you think? Which bike is best for this ride? After all, a recreational rider on a big mountain marathon is faced with a very similar question.
Number of the day: 4:20 minutes
The calculation shows that aerodynamic bikes that are not too heavy are the best escape machines for this long ride in the mountains.
Riding through the valleys slows down less aerodynamic bikes. This hits solo riders even harder than riders who are travelling in breakaway groups, as they can slipstream each other.
The (almost) entire field at a glance*
*) The calculations are based on the bikes tested by TOUR in the laboratory and wind tunnel. The bikes at the Tour de France may differ in some details. Of course, we have also not yet been able to analyse last-minute prototypes. Background to the simulation.
Table: The simulated riding times for an escape from kilometre zero. Aero bikes lead the ranking for the best mountain bike of the day. Low weight alone is no guarantee for the fastest possible ride over 4800 metres in altitude.
Our expert
Robert Kühnen studied mechanical engineering, writes about technical and training topics for TOUR and develops test methods. Robert has been refining the simulation calculations for years and they are also used by professional teams.
