Cycling is a highly professionalized sport. With so much training, practiced athleticism, strategic planning, and media training, it may seem odd to also have… bizarre habits and superstitions that don’t always make sense?
But did you know many of pro cycling’s weirdest “traditions” are actually helpful? Let’s check out some of the weird things cyclists do (on and off the bike) and see whether they are actually marginal gains… or just marginally silly!
Blink-and-you’ll-miss-them… the weirdest habits of the pro peloton!
Casual fans of cycling may have no idea that the pros do so many odd things during the racing season. Sure, they see the scenic route and the final sprint… but what about for those who take a closer look? They’ll discover an entire world of strange habits, secret tricks, and unusual rituals!
In actuality, some of these habits help to separate the peloton from the rest of us. By getting the small additive benefits of all these crazy habits, the riders can become stronger, smarter, or more efficient than ever… which might just give them a competitive edge in their next race.
Read more: Debunking 15 common myths about pro cycling.
Here are 11 of the strangest things you’ll see pro cyclists do before, during, or after a big race:
1. Sleep “at altitude,” even at home.
To gain a competitive edge, many cyclists live or train at altitudes of 2,000 meters or more. This helps to naturally increase their red blood cell count.
However, did you know sleeping “at altitude” even while training at sea level is a favorite, too? And the setup is a little weird!
When training at home, many cyclists will sleep in an “altitude tent,” which uses a specialized air filter to simulate thinner air. Riders literally sleep in a tent set up around their bed, often for the entire time they are asleep at night, to continue to gain acclimatization benefits.
While it might sound a little crazy, this little tent helps the pros hold onto the benefits of their high-altitude training all throughout the season.
2. Pin their race number on upside-down.
Superstition is rife in professional cycling.
Race number 13 is considered to be super bad luck, so many riders who are assigned it will pin it upside down or cover it partially with tape. While it doesn’t affect aerodynamics, this ritual is believed to ward off mechanical failures, crashes, or simply a bad day on the bike.
And this extends to the team car too! Team cars labeled with unlucky number 13 will often flip the number to protect the whole team from the bad luck curse. Oh no!
Embed from Getty Images3. Drink baking soda, or other “bicarb” sports drinks.
You may like soda… but you’re probably not too fond of drinking baking soda! Unfortunately for many of the pros, they’re sipping on this during the racing season… and the taste isn’t great.
While there is some scientific evidence that this works to enhance high-intensity performance, the bizarre side effect is often digestive distress. Some riders occasionally experience stomach issues during the race! They’re all too happy to put up with it in pursuit of the marginal gains.
4. Domestique hydration duties: a shirt full of bottles?
Sometimes when watching a race, you might have seen some unknown rider with his or her jersey stuffed full to bursting with water bottles!
Actually, this rider isn’t just super thirsty. When the designated team water carriers (often lower-ranking riders) go back to the car to load up, they don’t just grab two bottles. They will stuff up to 10 or 12 bottles into every available space: down the back of the jersey, under the bib shorts, and sometimes even in the front.
Unfortunately, this transforms their usually aerodynamic profile into something… well, that sort of resembles a turtle, at least until they can hand the bottles out to teammates. But the team leaders don’t have to waste energy fetching their own hydration.
Let’s give it up for the domestiques!
Read more: Why we love domestiques and their important job in every cycling team.
5. Cool down with ice in pantyhose.
During the hottest parts of the summer, racing temperatures can soar above 30°C or 86°F. In these cases, riders need extreme measures to prevent overheating.
The solution? A homemade “ice sock.” Team staff will take regular ice cubes, sometimes doused in water, and stuff them into old nylon stockings or pantyhose. This cold baggie is then shoved down the back of the rider’s jersey before a climb or a high-effort section, offering some chilly relief.
Read more: How do pro cyclists stay cool in the hottest races?
It’s a little silly to be riding around with a piece of pantyhose in your jersey! But it’s probably sillier to run the risk of overheating.
Embed from Getty Images6. Using newspaper as makeshift insulation.
Alternatively, what about cold conditions? On those long mountain descents, a rider’s speed combined with high altitude air can create super intense wind chill.
Modern thermal layers are commonly used when the weather will be bad, but for a quick, cheap, and disposable fix? Riders reach for some newspaper or thin cardboard. They quickly stuff it under their jersey before the descent begins. The paper acts as a lightweight, disposable wind-blocker, creating an insulating layer before it is discarded at the bottom of the hill.
Julian Alaphilippe made some waves at the Tour de France when he took a fan’s sign cheering for Wout Van Aert and used it in his jersey! Luckily, he and Van Aert were able to meet the fan later for a photo to make amends.
7. Take a polite nature break… when the race leader needs to go.
Even the biggest stars in the sport need a bathroom break. But when one goes, they all go.
If the race leader or a major contender pulls over for a quick “nature break” (usually off to the side of a quiet country road), the entire peloton will often slow down or stop to maintain the status quo. To attack the race leader during this vulnerable moment is seen as unsportsmanlike!
8. Dumping out water bottles before a big climb.
When a long, steep mountain climb approaches, every gram counts.
So if a rider knows they have a feed zone or a car waiting for them later, they will often dump out the remaining 200ml to 400ml of water (or even the entire bottle) just before the climb starts.
Does it really make a difference? A full water bottle can weigh around 700 to 800 grams. That means that a rider can ditch over a pound of unnecessary weight that could slow them down!
9. Wearing sunglasses over helmet straps instead of underneath.
If you’ve ever ridden a bike with sunglasses, chances are you tucked the arms of the glasses underneath your helmet straps. But actually, the pros do it the exact opposite way!
This seems purely aesthetic, but it’s often a pragmatic choice. First, it prevents the sunglasses from sliding down or shaking loose during intense efforts, providing a much more secure fit. Second, it makes the glasses much easier to remove and replace when quickly swapping them into the helmet vents during a climb.
Next time you’re out for a ride, will you try it the pros’ way?
Read more: Do “marginal gains” really matter?
Embed from Getty Images10. Trading bikes with a teammate… even one much smaller or larger than themselves.
Pro bike fits can be very meticulous. Why in the world, then, do they so often swap bikes with teammates, including those with a much different size, height, or body shape?!
In the event of a sudden, catastrophic mechanical failure, a team leader might need a replacement bike immediately. If the team car is far away, they will take the bike of a smaller or larger teammate nearby.
Yes, the fit might be terrible! But a quick bike swap (which can take less than five seconds) is faster than waiting, often buying the leader time to get back to the team car for their properly-sized backup.
11. Take a “sticky bottle” from the team car.
Oh, what’s this? A rider holding onto the team car… wait, by holding onto a water bottle?
That’s right! When a cyclist falls back to the team car to collect a water bottle, they often hold onto the bottle—and the car’s window—for a second too long. This brief connection is known as a “sticky bottle,” and it allows the rider to get a short, illegal tow. This can save them some crucial energy.
The exchange of bottles is meant to be fluid. Unfortunately, the temptation to exploit the laws of physics (and the race rules) is often too great… riders who hold onto a sticky bottle too long can even get warnings and fines from race commissaires.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhich of these habits is the weirdest? Which actually help make a difference? Let us know what you think in the comments or on social media! ★
Leave a Reply