would a track sprinter be as fast as a cycling sprinter

[thunderlips76]

so i was wondering if you put usain bolt on a bicycle could he keep up with the mark Cavendishs of this world. I used to be a county level sprinter over 400m (along time ago) and can still get about at a fair rate on a football pitch. Now when I'm out on the bike with the lads i tend to get dropped, but on the flats i can catch up and get past them. So is the philology of track sprinters close to that of cycling sprinters?

 

[PhilDawson8270]

If they spent the time learning proper technique, I'm sure they would be able to compete.

The difference with the top athletes isn't usually fitness, but technical ability.

 

[Red17]

Doubt Bolt would want to cycle 100+ kms before a sprint

 

[Hacienda71]

The disciplines are too different to make a comparison. There is an overlap but to run flat out for 400m is totally different to someone like Cav who can put out a relatively huge amount of power after riding for 120 miles. I suspect the closest you would get to track sprinting with cyclists is the guys like Chris Hoy who look to put out massive power for a short duration. Cav and good road sprinters compromise some of their power to have great VO2 fitness so they can get to the end of a stage and still have a sprint in them. Road sprinters are more like marathon runners who can then sprint after 26 miles.

 

[swee'pea99]

I just googled to confirm my half-remembered fact, that Usain Bolt can do short bursts at 27mph. I find that gobsmacking. When I'm cycling at 25mph, I feel like I'm really shifting - the thought that someone could actually overtake me on foot is just mind-boggling to me.

 

[zizou]

A track running sprinter would be more comparable to a track cycling sprinter (Like Chris Hoy) and assuming the training was done then there is no reason why they wouldnt be able to compete - fast twitch muscles are fast twitch muscles whether on a bike or on an athletics track.

Actually i suspect that if the top talent in the world for running 100 to 400 metres had devoted themselves to track cycling sprinting then they would be a bit better than be competitive.

 

[xxDarkRiderxx]

Great question. I would agree with @PhilDawson8270 regarding the proper technique. I was a sub 11 seconds (100m) track sprinter in my younger years and that did cross over to the bike where I have always been the fastest against friends over short distances, but like others have said having the endurance to last a long cycle and then do the extra sprint at the end is the difference between track and road I would think.

I did have a sprint test on a WATT Bike a few years ago, and this showed that I had slightly higher than average RPM. Don't really know if that has anything to do with being a good track sprinter or not.

 

[thunderlips76]

Hmmm yeah over shirt distances I can pretty much put the hammer down and go past most of the lads. I'm all fast twitch fibres. I suppose track sprinters are more used to anaerobic respiration than a cycling sprinter who would also have to travel long distances until the sprint. But I'd love to see a cycling team protect usain bolt long enough for him to attack a sprint stage.

 

[Simontm]

I would like to see one of the rowers against Cav as their sport is a matter of sprint then distance, then sprint again so perhaps they would be more suited?

 

[Accy cyclist]

I'd say no. Cycling and running are two completely different things, Would the fastest swimmers be able to keep up with the fastest cyclists and runners?

 

[Smurfy]

Actually i suspect that if the top talent in the world for running 100 to 400 metres had devoted themselves to track cycling sprinting then they would be a bit better than be competitive.

Training for competitive running arguably requires a much lower level of technical and financial support than cycling. For example, Kenyans can train on dirt roads with little more than a pair of trainers, but could possibly make a big impact in long distance cycling if the resources were available to send them down that route.

 

[sidevalve]

If you are talking about a standing start short distance the the sprinter every time after that it's the bike.

 

[Red17]

If they spent the time learning proper technique, I'm sure they would be able to compete.

The difference with the top athletes isn't usually fitness, but technical ability.

For some reason that brings back memories of Kevin Keegan in the 70's


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4OzPrskdqU

 

[Citius]

Hmmm yeah over shirt distances I can pretty much put the hammer down and go past most of the lads. I'm all fast twitch fibres. I suppose track sprinters are more used to anaerobic respiration than a cycling sprinter who would also have to travel long distances until the sprint. But I'd love to see a cycling team protect usain bolt long enough for him to attack a sprint stage.

Bolt would almost certainly not have the aerobic capacity to get to the finish. A better comparison would be to compare him with someone like Hoy or Kenny. And he'd still lose, cos he's a runner, not a cyclist.

Turn the question around the other way - would Hoy be able to beat Bolt in 100m..?? No.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

For some reason that brings back memories of Kevin Keegan in the 70's


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4OzPrskdqU

Something doesn't look right with that.