Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Caleb Ewan's Sprint Position - Technique Breakdown

Caleb Ewan has been disrupting the sprint scene with a "new" sprinting technique that combines the aerodynamic benefits of a super tuck with a modified pedal stroke.  Below is a still grabbed from the video (edit 7.29.24:  Need to source a new video because this one was removed for unknown reasons):

It's no secret that a forward hip position decreases drag via a lower projected frontal surface area.  It's the reason why a steeper seatpost angle in TT bikes creates such an aerodynamic position.  In Caleb's sprint position, his hips are inches forward from a normal TT position; so the only way to avoid losing power is to shift the end of his push phase to seven o'clock.  This allows him to continue using hip extension (glutes and hamstrings) for the same range of motion, and experience no loss of power.

The only disadvantage this sprint position creates is an increased workload on the muscles of the upper body.  By pushing back to seven o'clock, the force from the hips and lower body will propel the body forward, forcing the arms to push back.  Sprinting in this position essentially turns cycling into a sled-push exercise.  On that note, if you have access to a sled, this would be the perfect way to train the body for this position!

The technique required to execute this sprint technique is surprisingly simple.  However, you need to be willing to include lots of resistance training to get the upper body and core overbuilt to handle these forces.

Caleb Ewan's Sprint Position - Technique Breakdown

Caleb Ewan has been disrupting the sprint scene with a "new" sprinting technique that combines the aerodynamic benefits of a super...