Will he or won’t he? Wout van Aert was spotted using double discs during the course recon in Paris on Thursday for the time trial on Saturday. The setup is quite uncommon in modern time trials. While it used to be prevalent on the track and on “funny bikes” with only bullhorns on the road, it’s rarely seen today.
Belgian commentators spoke about van Aert’s possible set-up for the race. Former pro Bert De Backer noted that it certainly is fast but comes with risks.
Speed and handling
“The rear wheel then gets a flywheel effect. And they also use a full front wheel, although the downside is that you become a lot less maneuverable,” he said. “Steering is much more difficult. But in my opinion, the course is not very technical, and that’s why they’re trying it. I also suspect that there won’t be much wind.”
Although the course is mostly sheltered due to its location within the city limits, a few gusts of wind could certainly prove challenging.
Possible crosswinds?
“Many turns, lots of ups and downs, and a lot of wind are reasons not to use the full front wheel,” he said. “Even for a big rider, it’s not pleasant to ride with it in crosswinds. But I do find it fun that experimentation is happening again.”
Another former pro, José De Cauwer, was not thrilled with the choice. “It can have an aerodynamic advantage, definitely. But when you talk about an advantage, there may also be a disadvantage. Full wheels are very sensitive to crosswinds, and that can have a dangerous effect,” he said.
Given the preparation that pros put into time trials, it’s likely not the first time he’d ridden with double discs.
“Of course, they will have tested it, and they can calculate how much wattage gain it can provide. Then you have to weigh it against the disadvantage,” De Cauwer said. “With spokes in your wheel, you always have a bit more wind, and you also create more wind, but I’m standing here in an open space, and I can feel it blowing quite hard.”
The course itself is designed to favour pure time trialists, characterized by its relatively flat terrain along with some technical elements. Racing begins at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Canadian Cycling Magazine will provide reports and analysis from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Make sure to visit our special Olympic section on the website for more details.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…