An Amazing Ride by Team Jumbo-Visma!

While watching the Tour de France live, the sports fan in me is always shouting louder than the physicist looking for a perfect prediction.  Team Ineos was finished with a time of 29' 17", and was watching team after team come in, trying to beat that time.  Our prediction was set to be just over 1% off.  But then came the last team, Team Jumbo-Visma, led by yesterday's winner, Mike Teunissen, donned in the yellow jersey.  I was on the edge of my office chair as they were about to start (click on image for a larger view).

The team's eight riders knew what time they had to beat, and they definitely proved the adage that last is not least.

In a team time trial, four of the team's riders must cross the finish line.  The team's time is in fact determined by the time when the fourth rider finishes.  I was anxious to see how Dylan Groenewegen looked after yesterday's crash.  He was unfortunately still showing the effects of the crash as he fell off the team's pace with about 17 km (11 mi) left.  But his mates kept up a torrid pace.  It was great watching the way the team members interchanged the tough lead position.  In the screen capture below, Steven Kruijswijk has just moved to the back (click on image for a larger view).

So much great physics in that image!  The closed back wheels help reduce drag by streamlining the wake of air separating off the bikes and riders.  Cyclists are crouched and helmets are tapered at the back.  The cyclist in front works hardest because there is no drafting for the leader.  By taking turns at the front, team members alternate who expends the most energy.  Athletes, trainers, nutritionists, engineers, physicists, and research and development teams in companies all work to creep ever closer to the limits constrained by the laws of physics.

By the time Team Jumbo-Visma was within a couple of kilometers of the finish line, I was rooting for them to sneak under 29 minutes.  Our prediction was going to be worse if they did, but so what?!?  They pulled it off, as you see below (click on image for a larger view).

Four need to finish, but it's always good to have at least five head for the finish, just in case one rider has a problem.  Check out how our prediction fared.

• Stage 02:  28' 57" (actual), 29' 41" (prediction), 00' 44" slow (2.53% error)

I'll most definitely take that error!  The team's average speed was incredible.

• Stage 02:  15.89 m/s (57.20 kph or 35.54 mph)

Try to imagine biking that speed with at least one other cyclist right in front of you and one other cyclist right behind you.  It's much harder than it looks!

Tomorrow's third stage commences in the western Belgian city of Binche.  Riders will leave Belgium and enter the French commune of Jeumont after about 12 km (7.5 mi) of cycling.  The 215-km (134-mi) hilly stage ends in the French commune of Épernay.  A category-4 climb and three category-3 climbs greet riders near the end of the stage, perhaps hinting at more serious climbs to come in later stages.  Our prediction is given below.

• Stage 03:  5h 06' 59" (prediction)

Can Team Jumbo-Visma make it three in a row???