The Real Science of Sport Podcast Why Cobbles Cost Cyclists / Cheap Carbon Shoes Break Records / Doping Confessions and Cons
Apr 8, 2026
They unpack why cobbled roads sap power and demand more effort, and how vibrations and bike tech change who thrives on classics. They debate whether tactics can beat raw power at Roubaix. They cover cheap carbon shoes breaking records and the economics of super-shoes. They examine novel estimates of hidden doping, peptide disclosures tied to the Enhanced Games, and rising teen track phenoms.
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Deny The Strongest Rider Extra Recovery
- On cobbles, riders should avoid equal work sharing with a superior sprinter because that grants them extra recovery and winning power.
- Deny the strongest rider a bit more effort (e.g., 40% instead of 50%) to reduce their recovery before decisive cobbled sections.
Handlebars Shattered On Roubaix Cobbles
- Ross Tucker recalls fracturing handlebars on Roubaix cobbles after hitting a raised stone, illustrating extreme forces riders face.
- He describes the five-minute intensity of riding Roubaix and how carbon components can crack from impacts.
Body Mass And Setup Shape Cobbled Success
- Heavier riders cope better with cobble vibrations because mass dampens vertical bouncing and preserves wheel contact.
- Lower cadence and wider tires/tire pressures also help power over imperfections, favoring bigger cobbled specialists.